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Meddling in internal affairs, not the way to defend Cwealths relevance – The Hindu Editorial - 02.11.2011

It is understandable that the Commonwealth, a grouping of former British colonies, is striving to remain relevant in the present day. Meddling in the affairs of member-states, whether it is Pakistan, or Sri Lanka, or India or Zimbabwe, is not the way to go about it, The Hindu said in an editorial today.

""Outside intervention cannot be the answer to protect human rights. Aside from enabling external actors with unclean hands to assume control of governance, it often ends up discrediting local efforts to improve the situation,"" the editorial said.

The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is possibly the finest document of the worlds aspiration to treat all human beings equally and with dignity. What really undermines the international rights framework is the perception that the international human rights mechanisms are a weapon in the hands of powerful countries to lord it over less powerful states, through economic sanctions or other means, it said.

Full text of the editorial follows:

The fracas at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth over a proposal to appoint a human rights monitor has reopened an old debate that pits national sovereignty against an international human rights regime. India and Sri Lanka were among the countries that opposed the idea of a Human Rights Commissioner for the Commonwealth nations. The proposal has been given up, at least for now.

The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is possibly the finest document of the worlds aspiration to treat all human beings equally and with dignity. Even though the UDHR was assailed from the beginning by some as a western construct that ignored cultural and religious differences, most countries, including India, are signatories to it and its various covenants. What really undermines the international rights framework is the perception that the international human rights mechanisms are a weapon in the hands of powerful countries to lord it over less powerful states, through economic sanctions or other means. The perception is strengthened by the flagrant double standards in the way rights issues are raised. For instance, Australia and the United Kingdom, in the forefront of the Commonwealth human rights campaign, are quite content to ignore alleged violations in China or India, where their own interests — principally economic ones — are involved. Canada is outraged by rights violations during Sri Lankas military victory over the LTTE, but is quiet about the appalling toll of civilian deaths in U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Another eye-opener has been in the western handling of the Arab Spring in Libya on the one hand, and in Bahrain on the other.

It is for this reason that India — which has resisted cultural and religious exceptionalism to human rights at the United Nations — was correct in opposing the Commonwealths efforts to impose another layer of international scrutiny into the conduct of member-states. This is not to give a clean bill of health to the Indian record: in some places, such as Jammu & Kashmir, in the North-East, and in areas hit by the Maoist insurgency, the shocking and repeated instances of rights violations by the security forces are a blot on the countrys democratic credentials. or Zimbabwe, is not the way to go about it. But outside intervention cannot be the answer. Aside from enabling external actors with unclean hands to assume control of governance, it often ends up discrediting local efforts to improve the situation. It is understandable that the Commonwealth, a grouping of former British colonies, is striving to remain relevant in the present day. Meddling in the affairs of member-states, whether it is Pakistan, or Sri Lanka, or India or Zimbabwe, is not the way to go about it.

Courtesy : www.priu.gov.lk

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National Action Plan on HR unveils - 07.10.2011

The government yesterday announced that a new National Action Plan approved by the Cabinet for the protection and promotion of Human Rights would assist to achieve reconciliation among the communities while not allowing the terrorism to resurface.
Addressing the media on the National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Plantation Industries and the Special Envoy of the President on Human Rights, said Sri Lanka will update the progress of the Plan at the United Nations Human Rights Council in March next year.
He said the Plan was implemented in a transparent manner and developed through the participatory process involving government and civil society. When it was submitted to the Cabinet for approval and formal adoption, it was adopted with amendments made by the Cabinet Ministers.
The five-year action plan will be implemented under eight sections including civil and political rights, social economic and cultural rights, rights of abstinence from torture, women and children rights.
The Plan will be implemented by different ministries and institutions while an inter-ministerial committee will monitor the process.
The government expects to strengthen civil liberties and ensure better human rights compliance through the implementation of the Plan. It will be distributed to all ministries tomorrow.
The Minister further said that the National Action Plan will be submitted to the UN Commissioner of Human Rights Navi Pillay, INGOs, NGOs, Diplomatic Missions and other respective officials.
Meanwhile, Mohan Peiris, the former Attorney General, who was a member of the delegation that addressed the 18th sessions of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last month, said measures are underway to include the Human Rights studies in the school curriculum.
Addressing the media this morning in Colombo Peiris said that it is necessary to introduce human rights studies at the primary academic level other than educating human rights to the elderly populace.

Courtesy: www.priu.gov.lk

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The might of powerful nations cannot prevail against justice and fair play – President at UNGA, –“Deeply mindful that the battle for peace is every bit as important and difficult as the struggle against terror” - 26.09.2011

“Whilst clash of ideas, opinions and values continues we have clarly to recognize that dialogue, deliberation and consensus offer only viable means for resolving differences. The might of powerful nations cannot prevail against justice an fair play”’ said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at New York today (23).
President Rajapaksa said “I am deeply mindful … that the battle for peace is every bit as important and difficult as the struggle against terror. After the eradication of terrorism, my government has turned its undivided attention to building anew, the foundations of a unified and vibrant nation and drawing upon the inherent strengths of our country and in particular, the unique caliber of our human potential.

“The most significant challenge to stability and progress in the modern world is posed by the menace of terrorism. Recent experience the world over amply demonstrates that inconsistent standards and discriminating approaches can unintentionally give a fresh lease of life to the forces of terror. An explicit and uniform response, which refuses to recognize political shades of terrorism, is necessarily required,” he said.

“Terrorism presents a threat from which not even the wealthiest and most powerful of nations are immune. It must be remembered, as well, that terrorist groups frequently operate under the guise of front organizations. Conferring legitimacy on these has the inevitable effect of providing comfort and encouragement to the merchants of terror.”

“We ask our friends in distant lands to drop pre-conceived notions. We strongly believe in home-grown solutions for them to be sustainable. It is clearly impractical to conceive of universal remedies for problems which afflict our societies,” the President added.

Here is the text of President Rajapaksa’s address:

Mr. President of the Sixty Sixth Session of the General Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Your Excellency Nassir Abdul Aziz Al-Nasser on your assumption of the Presidency. I must also congratulate His Excellency Ban-ki-Moon warmly on his re-election as Secretary-General and we look forward to working with him constructively.

As we gather here today, it is appropriate to reflect on the values and ideals which inspire the United Nations system. One of the principal attributes is the spirit of flexibility which has always been a feature of the United Nations.

We must acknowledge the need for that spirit of openness and adaptability today, more than at any other time. This is because the foundations of the world order, are being transformed dramatically and fundamentally. At the heart of these changes is the need to protect smaller countries in the developing world and to advance their interests vigorously.

In the midst of uncertainty there are some things which must remain constant. These reflect our esteemed beliefs and convictions. Despite repeated references in this Assembly by many member countries on the right of the Palestinian people to a State of their own within secure borders, we still have not been able to make it a reality.

It is a matter for profound disappointment that this has not yet happened. There is a window of opportunity now and we must make use of it before it is too late. It is time for decisive action rather than more discussion. This will be in the interest of the security and the well being of the entire region including Israel.

The need for sustained support for countries of the African Continent at this critical time is also worthy of mention.

It is important to remind ourselves that every country cherishes the values and traditions, and deeply held religious convictions it has nurtured over the centuries. These cannot be diluted or distorted under the guise of human rights, by the imposition of attitudes or approaches which are characteristics of alien cultures.

If this were done, it would amount to a violation of human rights in a fundamental sense. It must also be pointed out that even where sanctions are imposed, extreme care has to be taken to ensure that the people at large, men, women and children yet to be born, are not harmed by such action. I would also express, once again, my solidarity with the people of Cuba and I wish them all success.

Mr. President, Excellencies,

Whilst clash of ideas, opinions and values continues we have clearly to recognize that dialogue, deliberation and consensus offer the only viable means for resolving differences. The might of powerful nations cannot prevail against justice and fair play.

In the troubled times in which we live, we can derive guidance from the wise words of Gautama the Buddha who advised the Lichchavi Princes, whose energies were being consumed by bitter disputes among them, that the way forward consists of meeting, discussing and departing in an atmosphere of amity and goodwill. This represents the essential spirit of the United Nations, particularly relevant today.

The most significant challenge to stability and progress in the modern world is posed by the menace of terrorism. Recent experience the world over amply demonstrates that inconsistent standards and discriminating approaches can unintentionally give a fresh lease of life to the forces of terror. An explicit and uniform response which refuses to recognize political shades of terrorism, is necessarily required.

Terrorism presents a threat from which not even the wealthiest and most powerful of nations are immune. It must be remembered, as well, that terrorist groups frequently operate under the guise of front organizations. Conferring legitimacy on these has the inevitable effect of providing comfort and encouragement to the merchants of terror.

As the leader of a nation which has paid a heavy price due to terrorism over a quarter of a century, I would underline that we must firmly resolve to rid the world of terrorism. We need to have solid practical action on the ground, and send out our collective message on this issue loud and clear universally.

Mr. President, Excellencies,

The interest of the developing world needs to be protected in another significant respect. It is vitally important to insist that the structures and procedures of multilateral organizations are uniform and consistent and devoid of discrimination.

My country has reason for concern with approaches tainted by an unacceptable degree of selectivity, which we have brought to the notice of the organizations in question in recent weeks. The developing world must keep a vigil against these irregular modalities which should be resisted through our collective strength.

After three decades of pain and anguish, today, Sri Lankans of all ethnicities, living in all parts of Sri Lanka, are free from LTTE terror and no longer live in a state of fear.

However, I am deeply mindful that the battle for peace is every bit as important and difficult as the struggle against terror. After the eradication of terrorism, my government has turned its undivided attention to building anew, the foundations of a unified and vibrant nation and drawing upon the inherent strengths of our country and in particular, the unique caliber of our human potential.

It is justifiable for us to be proud of our nation’s achievements during the brief span of thirty months which have elapsed since the beginning of the post-conflict phase. The resettlement of more than 95% of internally displaced persons, who constituted the largest number of civilians forcibly held by a terrorist group at any time, while continuing even today to clear the mines laid by terrorists in extensive areas is a proud achievement.

Today, in the Northern province, the Armed Forces are engaged in development of the infrastructure which were destroyed by the terrorists during a period of three decades. Contrary to malicious propaganda, the numbers of the Armed forces present in the Northern province is at a minimal level.

Revival of the economy has enhanced incomes and improved livelihoods, ex-combatants and other cadres after exposure to programmes of vocational training and counseling have been re-integrated into society, electoral process has been restored after decades making possible the emergence of a democratic leadership. These are among our valued accomplishments.

The remarkable growth of 22% of the economy of the Northern Province is a clear indication of the success achieved by the government’s initiatives with regard to development in that part of the country. The GDP growth of the country has been consistent at 8 percent, unemployment at a record low of 4.5 percent and it is also worthy of mention that in the assessment by the World Economic Forum in its Global Competitiveness Report for 2011 - 2012 Sri Lanka shows dramatic improvement, moving up to 52nd from 79th rank over a span of two years.

It is worthy of note that all these developments have taken place within the brief space of 30 months – an achievement all the more significant because of our strong emphasis on reconciliation. Important as economic development is, we have attached the highest priority to fostering the spirit of inclusivity and removing any remnants of bitterness from the hearts and minds of all our people.

Over the last thirty months, we have recruited 669 Tamil police officers bringing the total number of Tamil officers to 1143 while plans are afoot to recruit more this year and in the future.

After more than two decades, a census is being conducted in the Northern province as a part of the national census, to provide a firm basis for our initiatives.

As a result of these achievements what we see in Sri Lanka today is a self-reliant nation, with robust hope for the future, and a strong economy, strengthened by inward investment flows, unprecedented expansion of tourism and significant growth of volumes of international trade.

Towards consolidation of these trends, leaving behind us, the trauma of the past, we ask of the international community the hand of friendship and goodwill, based on understanding of our nation’s determination to confront with courage the challenge of a new era in our history.

We ask our friends in distant lands to drop pre-conceived notions. We strongly believe in home-grown solutions for them to be sustainable. It is clearly impractical to conceive of universal remedies for problems which afflict our societies.

My country, as it comes out of the darkness of the last three decades into the light and promise of the future, must be afforded the time and space to seek its destiny in accordance with the wishes of its people. It is in keeping with the values enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the whole body of international law which governs us.

A further consideration that the international community should take into account is the vulnerability of developing nations and make provision, by means of appropriate institutional arrangements, for their protection.

As I observed when inaugurating the fiftieth anniversary meeting of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee in Colombo three months ago, dumping of commercial and industrial goods manufactured in developed countries imperils the economies of many Asian and African countries represented here.

Mr. President, Excellencies,

In conclusion, let me say that the use of substantial subsidies by Treasuries and Reserve Banks to support agricultural production in the developed world, and other forms of protectionism, cause serious distortion of the interplay of market forces, and reduce to a great extent the ability of farmers in many developing countries to access international markets for their export products on an equitable basis.

The disproportionate pollution of the environment by industrialized countries, and the resultant impact on global warming and climate change, cannot be remedied with any semblance of justice by imposing harsh restraints on developing countries which have contributed very little to aggravation of the problem. These circumstances heighten the importance of social equity at the international level.

May the Noble Triple Gem bless you all! Theruwan Saranai!

Courtesy: www.priu.gov.lk

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SriLankan wins Etihad Global Excellence Award 2010/11 – 16.09.2011

Sri Lankan Airlines won the Etihad Global Excellence Award 2010/11.The Etihad Global Excellence Award 2010/11 came after Etihad evaluated its comprehensive audits of all its suppliers of on-board cuisine worldwide.

The audits covered every possible factor including the level of customer service, responsiveness to needs of customer airlines, quality, presentation of meals, hygiene, overall catering operation and on-time delivery.

""SriLankan Catering has once again done our nation proud, by winning an international accolade over and above intense competition from larger caterers. This proves quite decisively that there is nothing that cannot be achieved by a small team that is dedicated to providing the very best to its customers. It is indeed a special feeling to receive the recognition of our peers in the global air transport industry,"" said Nishantha Wickremasinghe, Chairman of SriLankan Airlines and SriLankan Catering.

Since its launch in 2003, Etihad has built a reputation as one of the worlds leading carriers, winning awards such as the World Travel Awards in 2009 and 2010. The National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad has a fleet of 57 aircraft which operate close to 1,000 flights per week, serving an international network of 67 destinations in 45 countries.

Courtesy : www.priu.gov.lk

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Sri Lanka records 8.2% GDP growth for Q2 2011 – 16.09.2011

Sri Lanka has recorded 8.2% GDP growth in the second quarter of 2011, compared to the same period in 2010, with prices estimated at Rs. 686,928 million as against Rs. 635,076 million in the second quarter of 2010, according to the statistics released by the Department of Census and Statistics.

The three major sectors of the economy namely, Agriculture, Industry, and Services registered significant growth as 77,940 million, 195,264 million, and 413,724 million respectively.

Having taken into consideration the recent macroeconomic developments the Central Bank has decided to maintain the Bank’s policy interest rates at their current levels.

Accordingly, the Bank’s Repurchase rate remains at 7.00 per cent while its Reverse Repurchase rate remains at 8.50 per cent, stated the Central Bank in its Monetary Policy Review for the month of September.

Both exports and imports continued to grow at a rapid pace. Meanwhile, foreign exchange inflows to the capital and financial account are also continuing in view of projects being implemented in diverse sectors of the economy, the Bank added.

Further, the Central Bank has also absorbed the proceeds of the sovereign bond issued recently, leading to the gross official reserves recording historically high levels.

Courtesy: www.priu.gov.lk

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Sri Lanka - crucifixion of a country for defeating terrorism? - 14.09.2011

Sri Lanka eliminated a dreaded terrorist group, with intricate global links, but receives little credit for it. Unlike elsewhere in the world, Sri Lanka has succeeded in resettling 300,000 IDPs. There are no starving children for the NGOs to feed but this gets ignored.

Sri Lanka has avoided mass misery, epidemics and starvation but the West takes no notice of this, Mathias Keittle wrote.

Sri Lanka has attained enviable socio-economic standards for a developing country while eliminating terrorism but gets no acknowledgement, he said.

The Government of Sri Lanka and its President continue to enjoy unprecedented popular approval through democratic elections but this is dismissed, the German researcher said.

The economy continues to boom, but remains unencouraged by the West.

Background

After 27 years of bloody conflict Sri Lanka’s internal mayhem came to an end with the comprehensive defeat of the Tamil Tigers. In an Alice in Wonderland scenario, the country changed from an environment of unconstrained fear and uncertainty to peace and utter relief overnight.

Thousands poured out on to the streets to celebrate in an outpouring of incomparable joy and restaurant keepers spontaneously distributed food to all passersby along busy thoroughfares. Over the following months approximately 300,000 IDPs were returned to their own towns and villages, admittedly not to the best of living conditions.

But one has to remember that their circumstances were hardly comfortable under the iron rule of the LTTE for close to 27 years or as they were herded from one tent camp to another as a human shield and a bargaining chip by the retreating LTTE. The retreating LTTE had also removed roofing material from houses to prevent the return of their human shield to their homes. The captured child soldiers (approximately 600) have undergone rehabilitation and have returned to their communities. The UNICEF documented 5700 child recruits by the LTTE. Of the 11,700 former LTTE combatants, over 7000 have been returned to their communities after rehabilitation despite the real risk of some returning to the only profession that they had been trained in – that of being trained killers.

The risk is magnified by the fact that caches of buried weapons continue to be unearthed in the North and the Tamil militants in the West continue to drum up separatism and violence from their safe havens.

The continued presence of the military in the North is naively criticized, but the above background factors are ignored. Only a fraction of the detainees will face trial as the evidence against the rest may not be adequate to satisfy the evidential requirements of the courts. A vast effort has been undertaken to restore the economy of the North and huge sums are being pumped in for the purpose.

All this receives hardly a mention in the West while an intense campaign is being orchestrated to pin down individuals allegedly guilty of war crimes and human rights violations. This must surely be the only case in history that a winner in a conflict has been hounded in this manner to account for alleged war crimes and breaches of human rights in the process of winning the conflict – leave alone defeating a ruthless terrorist group.

There have been no such demands made following World War II, or after the Korean Conflict, after Vietnam, after Gulf War 1, the continuing occupation of Afghanistan or Iraq.

Remarkably, all sorts of people have flocked together to demand accountability from Sri Lanka, the Elders, Prime Minister Cameron, Hillary Clinton, the SG, Bernard Kouchner, David Milliband, the aging Ed Mortimer, et al. It cannot simply be that they all were encouraged by the sexiness of the subject or simply by the nobility of advancing humanitys highest ideals.

The Reasons

It is difficult to pin down one reason for this attitude of a number of key Western countries and some high profile individuals. Were pure principled attachment to humanitarian standards the reason, then Sri Lanka would, in their view, appear to be the one egregious offender in the whole world. This obviously cannot be the case. But Sri Lanka is certainly a developing country from the non-Western world and hence easier to beat up.

Sri Lanka also was unusual in not responding positively to intense pressure when a number of Western leaders demanded a ceasefire towards the very end of the conflict and this refusal set an uncomfortable precedent. Bernard Kouchner, David Miliband and Hillary Clinton, all demanded a cease fire which Sri Lanka rejected. Both sides had good reasons for the approaches that they adopted.

Sri Lanka had the Tamil Tigers on their haunches and victory after 27 years of brutal bloodshed was temptingly within grasp. The Western leaders were under intense pressure to intervene from the Tamil diaspora, which wielded enormous financial and some political clout.

Cities like Toronto, London, Melbourne and Sydney were brought to a standstill by massive Tamil demonstrations. During his visit to Sri Lanka in the middle of May 2009, David Miliband was told in no uncertain terms to butt out and mind his own business by the Sri Lankan leadership and may not have forgiven this slight by the former colonial minion.
The US proposed an evacuation of the trapped civilians and, perhaps the LTTE leadership, using its navel assets and this was rejected both by India and the Sri Lankan Government.

There were predictions of a blood bath and, at the time, no one claimed that it actually happened. (Subsequently and, suspiciously, evidence began to be produced by interested parties to establish that a blood bath did actually happen!). Interestingly, allegations of war crimes and human rights violations have emerged from countries that have provided refuge to massive numbers of Sri Lankan Tamils. Many have used the then existing violence as a basis for their claims for refugee status.

The LTTE raised large amounts of money from the diaspora to fund the war effort. Today these funds are used to advance their cause. Tamils for Clinton contributed substantially to her campaign until this was brought to public attention and the funds were returned. The LTTE has quietly funded politicians in many Western countries and continue to do so. The US lawyer, Bruce Fein, is funded by the Tamil diaspora. The liberal end of Western politics, ever ready to champion the underdog, was a willing champion of the Tamil diaspora cause. The shadow LTTE incessantly targets the media and the diplomatic community in Colombo.

The availability of funds, articulate advocates, the liberal tendency to take up the causes of apparent underdogs, horror stories, real or concocted, sympathetic journalists who were ever ready to use their privileged position in the Western media to support the cause, the sense of unhappiness with Sri Lanka among liberal political leaders in the West, the slow pace with which Sri Lanka countered some of the issues, were a cogent mix to activate the major humanitarian NGOS in the West. Many Western journalists unashamedly adopted the Tamilnet version of the conflict and were willing to use influential Western newspapers (London Times, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age) to propagate the version fed by the Taminet.

It would also seem that a not so subtle campaign is being mounted against the Sri Lankan leadership, orchestrated by elements of the Tamil diaspora and picked up by the Western media. The settling of scores by using the international community, now that the battle on the ground has been lost, appears to be the major objective. Efforts persist to pin charges of war crimes and human rights violations, on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations and innuendo. This powerful surge is further augmented by allegations of abuses, corruption and nepotism. If these allegations stick, it would be a short step to drag Sri Lankan leaders before international tribunals. Recent history suggests that some allegations get a life of their own by the simple process of repetition.

The Machiavellian story line is simple. “The Sri Lankan Government deliberately set about using its military to target the Tamil population of the North and killed thousands in the process”. This line is repeated for effect while the authenticated history of the LTTE’s murderous bombing campaign targeting civilians over a period of 27 years and killing thousands, the recruitment of thousands of children as child soldiers, the murder of dozens of moderate Tamil leaders, the extortion of millions from Tamils around the world, the ethnic cleansing of the Northern Province, the deliberate destruction of UNESCO protected places of worship, the deliberate and cynical use of thousands as a human shield, the human trafficking and the drug trafficking are air brushed as the frenzied campaign is cranked up using NGOs, eminent persons and the media to establish human rights violations and war crimes by the Government.

The focus is deliberately shifted from the murderous Tigers to the Government and these allegations are designed to stay around for a long while. The one goal of this campaign appears to be to punish the Government leadership, in order to avenge the defeat of the murderous Tigers, if not today than at some later time. A lie repeated often enough acquires a life of its own. This also gradually contributes to causing feelings of discomfort and doubt in the minds of ordinary Sri Lankans whose confidence in their Government, unshakable at present, could falter in time giving rise to prospects of regime change possibilities.

Some Elementary Fallacies – Were Thousands Killed in the Final Stages of the War
Were thousands of civilians killed in the final stages of the conflict? Was the number 1000? 7000 (as claimed in an internal UN document, later denied)? 20,000 as claimed by Jeremy Page in the London Times? 40,000 as claimed in the Cage by Gordon Weiss (commonly known as Gordon the Unwise) and referred to in the Darusman Report to the UNSG? or higher. The exact number will never be known just as much as we will never know the exact number of civilians killed in Afghanistan and Iraq following the intervention by Western governments. (The Lancet claimed in 2005 that already over 500,000 civilians had been killed).

But certain established facts cannot be ignored. In the final weeks of the conflict, the ICRC with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Navy evacuated approximately 7000 injured and the sick, including pregnant women, and over 8000 others from the last holdout of the LTTE. Is it likely that if there had been other injured, the ICRC would have left them behind and ferried out 8000 healthy persons? Experience and records of other recent conflicts would suggest that the number killed must be substantially lower than the number injured. This is a fact derived from experience.

Most importantly, at the end of the conflict both sides were hell bent on fighting to the end leaving no time to bury the dead. In the circumstances, the LTTE is unlikely to have had the time to bury the alleged large numbers of dead. The Sri Lankan army never found large numbers of dead bodies either. But what is a fact is that in April and May 2009, close to 300,000 civilians streamed out of the LTTE enclave to seek the protection of the Government Security Forces. Importantly, the Government which adopted a zero civilian casualty policy had learned from the experience of other armies fighting amongst civilians in region that indiscriminate attacks on civilians only result in producing more volunteer martyrs.

In early 2009, the Committee to Coordinate Humanitarian Assistance
(CCHA) to the North was working on the figure that there were approximately 121,000 people in Kilinochchi and 127,000 in Mullaitivu for the purpose of directing relief supplies to the North. It is quite likely that the LTTE took with them around 100,000 from Mannar.

Considering that around 60,000 escaped to Government controlled areas in the previous year, the numbers detained by the LTTE settles around the number accommodated in the Government organized refugee camps in May 2009. It is also on record that the Government adopted a zero civilian casualty policy and consciously adopted an infantry based approach. This resulted in 6000 deaths of security personnel as the final battles were fought by infantry when more devastating approaches could have been adopted. The allegation of deliberate targeting of civilians by the military and the large numbers killed appears to be a convenient and Machiavellian story to pin a charge of crimes against humanity.

Was the Tamil Community the Target of the Security Forces?

This is an accusation which could be dismissed outright if not for the seriousness with which it is expressed. The majority of the Tamils of Sri Lanka do not live in the North or the East. The vast majority lives among the majority community, the Sinhalese. It is estimated that 41% of the population of the capital, Colombo, is Tamil. In Colombo, the Tamil community has schools, temples, flourishing businesses and a significant number of Tamils are successful professionals and businessmen in Colombo. Many business houses in Colombo are Tamil owned. The UN has acknowledged that for over 27 years, the Government funded the health services and the schools in the LTTE controlled areas and sent food supplies to those areas. The food requirements were determined by the Government agents stationed in the District capitals, although in fact under the control of the LTTE.

The CCHA which consisted of the Ambassadors of the US, EU, Japan, Norway and the ICRC, in addition to senior representatives of key ministries, monitored the supply of essentials to the North on a weekly basis.

In the circumstances, to suggest that the Tamil community was targeted by the Government’s security forces, as was done in the Ch 4 documentary, is a base attempt to exacerbate ethnic divisions and create a negative impression of the Government. It also appears to be part of a insidious scheme to pin a charge of crimes against humanity on the security forces and its leadership in addition to aggravating and perpetuating latent ethnic tensions. No armed conflict is a game played in the school yard leave alone a terrorist war unleashed by a brutal proscribed group. Civilians do get hurt in war. Elsewhere this is referred to as “collateral damage”, and we know of wars in the wider region where collateral damage can be counted in the thousands.

But the Government of Sri Lanka adopted a policy of minimizing civilian casualties and to denigrate this approach now is reprehensible. It was because of the adherence to this policy that the Security Forces incurred over 6000 deaths by approaching the last pockets of the LTTE on foot. Perhaps, it is also convenient for the thousands of Tamils who went to the West claiming discrimination and oppression to maintain this facade until their refugee claims have been processed.
To acknowledge anything else may result in being sent back. It is also a fact that thousands who have received refugee status and travel documents from Western countries have travelled back to Sri Lanka to reclaim their properties and visit family and have not suffered any harassment.

Mathias Keittle is German researcher in Colombo hailing from Statalendorf. He has been a student of Sri Lankan affairs for over 25 years and is currently touring the country.

Courtesy : www.priu.gov.lk

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Govt. launches strategic plan for tourism – 06.09.2011

The Government’s five-year long strategic plan for development and sustainability of the tourism sector was disclosed by the Ministry of Economic Development yesterday (September 5).

According to Dr. Nalaka Godahewa the Chairman of Sir Lanka Tourism Development Authority, measures will be taken to develop relevant areas in the tourism industry for Sri Lanka to achieve its goal of 2.5 million tourists by 2016 with revenue of more than US$ 2.75 billion. Some of these areas will seek the assistance of the private sector, he said.

""The government was expecting to attract more than US$ 3 billion in foreign direct investment to support the industry that needs to add around 22,500 additional rooms to its current capacity. According to the strategic plan, we expect investments from the private sector to amount to more than US$ 500 billion by 2020 while the public sector would invest close to US$ 20 million,"" he added.

Measures will be taken to attract high-spending tourists, expanding the current market to achieve a target of US$ 2.75 billion in revenue while creating more than 500,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.

The Government expects to attract more than four million tourists by 2020 with the foreign earnings expected to reach US$ 8 billion.

Dr. Godahewa said that tourism in Sri Lanka will be marketed under eight themes showcasing Sri Lanka as a coveted tourist destination. Cabinet has appointed a committee to evaluate the procedures of several line agencies to create a conducive atmosphere for investment in the tourism sector, he added.

Courtesy: www.priu.gov.lk

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No extension of emergency regulations - President, 26.08.2011

President Mahinda Rajapaksa proposed to the Parliament today that the emergency regulations need to be extended. “I am satisfied with the fact that there is no need to extend emergency regulations for the administrative activities of the country now”, he noted while making this proposal. The country can function democratically under the ordinary law, he further said.

Full text of the statement by the President:

As the President who has participated most in the affairs of Parliament since the Executive Presidency was established, I am in Parliament today to further demonstrate by determination that there should be closer links between Parliament and the Presidency.

Form the time I was elected President I have presented all budgets in Parliament. I was able to obtain the continuous support of Parliament for the economic and development programmes presented in these budgets. I participated at the conclusion of the last budget debate to further widen the cooperation between Parliament and the State.

With all humility I am proud at participating in the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meetings of all Ministries that are under my direct control and by this means carrying out in large measure my duties to Parliament as Minister.

In establishing a very strong connection between the Executive and Legislature, we have done a great task on behalf of the country after it was freed from terrorism. It is my belief that through the close connection between the Executive and the Legislature it would be possible to strengthen democracy, establish sustainable good governance, strengthen the economy and further confirm the belief of the people in the process of Parliamentary democracy.

Hon. Speaker,

The brutal terrorism launched by the LTTE coincident with the destruction of places of worship, livelihoods of the people and property in the Black July 0f 1993 created an unfortunate environment where the country had to be governed by Emergency Regulations. The terrorism and insurrection have aroused in the South in 1988/89 and the systemic increase of the assassination of politicians led to justifying the continuation of Emergency Regulations. The State of Emergency was removed with the signing of Ceasefire Agreement in 2002 with international cooperation seeking to open the way to peace. However, the Emergency Regulations had to be brought back with the LTTE violating this ceasefire agreement on a large number of occasions and demonstrated the height of its terror with the assassination of Foreign Minister of Lakshman Kadirgamar.

When I took over the leadership and administration of the country in 2005, what we inherited was this environment of Emergency.

Although we made strong efforts to proceed with the peace talks that had been initiated at the time I assumed office in 2005, the brutal killing of people by the LTTE at Kebithigollawa and the later closure of the Mavil Aru Anicut led to our having to launch a humanitarian operation. The liberation of the East and the subsequent liberation of the North from terror was done under this environment. Emergency Regulations became necessary and useful for providing relief to a large number of innocent people who had been taken hostage by the forces of terror and were released with the liberation of the entire North and East from terror, as well as for carrying out urgent measures for their resettlement.

Hon. Speaker,

You are aware that even before 2005 there were several occasions when there were censorship of the press under Emergency Regulations. However, although we were compelled to carry out a massive battle against the most ruthless terrorist organization in the world at no time in the term of our government has there been a control or censorship of the press under Emergency Regulations.

Although some sections of the media caused grave obstacle to the humanitarian operation up to this time we have not carried out any media censorship. I believe this is a very good means of showing the world that we were engaged in a genuine humanitarian operation. It is with considerable regret that I state that this media freedom is been betrayed today to discredit the humanitarian operation that we carried out.

The humanitarian operation carried out between June 2006 and May 2009 enabled us to eradicate terrorism from the country. From then on our main responsibility was to open up that terrain for proper livelihoods to the people and for this purpose to remove landmines, supply basic infrastructure facilities all directed at resettling the displaced people. We were able to achieve admirable success in this of nearly 300,000 persons who were displaced, we have now resettled all but 8,000 in their former places of livelihoods. We have established schools, health centers and administrative facilities in those areas. In order to restore proper community life and provide necessary livelihoods facilities, we have restored agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, tourism, commerce and trade and financial activities to necessary levels. At present the people in these areas are harvesting the Yala crop and also reaping a good harvest from onions, vegetables and other supplementary crops. These people are engaged in fisheries and animal husbandry and have begun to enter higher level of activity in trade and commerce.

Towards the sustainable development of these areas we have prioritized construction of roads, railways, ports, airports, irrigation, water supply, power, markets and transport facilities as well as religious and cultural centers, and sports facilities that cover all necessary infrastructure aspects of development. The state investment set apart for this region alone exceeds USD 2000 million. These funds have been obtained as long term loans and assistance from different countries and financial institutions as well as from the income earned by the government from taxes and other sources of income for development. We expect a very high level of development in this area within the next two years.

Hon. Speaker,

Not only have the entire country been freed of terrorism and reconstruction been done in these areas that suffered under terrorism, within this short period we have also held local government elections and by this strengthen a system of democratic administration. It is our expectation to hold elections to the provincial council in the next year. By this means we have been able to give a people of the North the same rights and opportunities as available to people in other regions to participate in the election of Pradeshiya Sabas, Provincial Councils, members of Parliament and the President.

Hon. Speaker,

For the purpose of proper administration and good governance we have appointed District Secretaries to all districts, and the necessary Divisional Secretaries, Grama Niladharis, doctors and teachers necessary for the health and education sectors and for all other services in the different regions. Through this widening of the public service we have built a necessary environment to cater to the necessities of the people in these areas. In order to broaden the language capabilities of officials in those areas and to enable public officers in other areas to work in all languages the government has taken action to carry out a national policy on language.

Hon. Speaker,

We have achieved a broad level of progress in economic development too. In 2010, we were able to take the speed of the economic growth of the country to 8%. Statistics show that this trend has prevailed in the first six months of this year too. We now see lowering of the rate of inflation and the assurance of greater food security through better availability of food and vegetable. Unemployment has reduced up to 5%. Arrival of tourists has risen to high level of around 700,000. In all parts of the country there is now an environment in which both foreign and domestic tourist can move about in freedom. Investment activities are reaching a higher level. As a result of the rapid growth the export sector and the flow of foreign currency to the country the foreign reserves have now reached a level of 8 billion US dollars. Due to stability of the exchange rates, the uncertainties that prevailed in international trading activities have been largely eliminated. Due to the low interest rates the obtaining of loans by the private sector is on the increase. There is wide infrastructure development in sectors such as ports, airport, highways, power, irrigation and water supply. Through the ""Divi Neguma"" programme there is increased self sufficiency in agricultural sector and in domestic economy. Through the spread of this economic progress to every corner of the country, it has been possible to bring to the people their rights in education, health services and social security as envisaged in the forward vision of ""Mahinda Chinthana"".

Hon. Speaker,

From the time when terrorist activities ended in May 2009 until today there have been no reports of any terrorist activities, other than the imaginary Grease Demon. During this period through the conduct of several elections, the country moved further towards democracy. Society has accepted that these were peaceful and fair elections. Accordingly, in the recent past we have been removing various clauses of the Emergency Regulations and steadily bringing society to normal administration. Internationally too, it is now accepted that there are no reports of terrorist activity in Sri Lanka. We have also introduced to Parliament internationally recognized laws and regulations to avoid monetary activities, exchange of goods, drug trafficking, baking and financial risks carried out by terrorists engaged in further nurturing terrorism. In addition to strengthening the national security we have worked towards preempting opportunities for terrorism to emerge through these laws and regulations. We are proud to mention that our government has succeeded in protecting the law and order and peace through rules and regulations approved by Parliament based on the Constitution. Therefore, it is our responsibility to protect the democratic freedom achieved after many years.

It is under the ordinary law that the state administration, police and the judiciary take actions against those who take law into their hands and thereby disturbing peace and stability. It is a great victory achieved by the people. This success was possible for the country because our heroic soldiers accomplished the humanitarian mission with great dedication and exemplary manner; because the people of this country extended their generosity and patience. What we can benefit from this is immense. We laid a foundation to strengthen our county as a rising democracy in Asia.

Hon. Speaker,

For several years this Parliament has extended the Emergency Regulations every month. Some voted against ii while some abstained. This supreme Parliament is enriched by representing all political parties in the country. Through this representation we can consider Honorable Speaker and 225 honorable members as a great asset that brings together the multiplicity of views in the country. It is nurtured by all ethnicities, all religions as well as those who hold liberals and progressives views. All of them have gained wide experience in the recent past. Among these representatives are about 40 young members. We have for the first time an opportunity to find solutions for problems in our country within a democratic framework and without any influence from terrorists. Therefore, on behalf of the people of this country, I request Parliament to grant this opportunity to them through Parliament.

I would like to present to this supreme Parliament, the proposal to repeal the Emergency Regulations for administrative activities to function democratically under the ordinary law. This is because I am satisfied with that fact that there is no longer a need for extending the Emergency Regulations for the administration of the country now. Therefore I propose not to extend the Emergency Regulations.

Courtesy : www.priu.gov.lk

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Sri Lanka, fastest growing IT market in the region - Business Monitor International - 26.08.2011

Sri Lanka is one of the fastest growing IT markets in the region, states the Business Monitor International (BMI) of UK.

The addressable IT market in Sri Lanka is forecast at US$393 mn in 2011. It is expected to grow to US$742mn over BMIs five-year forecast period, states BMI in its IT Market Report.

The BMI further states that the computer market has comfortably been growing at a double-digit compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for several years.

The IT market has considerable latent potential but has been handicapped over the years by the countrys political instability, although things are now looking up. The restoration of peace and improvements in security have helped to release enterprise demand for IT solutions as companies look to boost efficiency, BMI points out.

""Sri Lankas addressable computer hardware market is forecast at US$270mn in 2011 and is projected to reach US$489mn in 2015. As basic infrastructure improves in areas outside Colombo, there is potential for strong growth in the North and East"", the BMI further illustrated.

IT services is expect to reach US$75mn in 2011, accounting for about 17% of Sri Lankas total spending on IT. The market is dominated by demand from the government, finance and telecoms sectors, which account for at least half of the total, BMI states.

Business Monitor Internationals Sri Lanka Information Technology Report provides industry professionals and strategists, corporate analysts, information technology associations, government departments and regulatory bodies with independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on Sri Lankas information technology industry, the BMI report states further.

For full report please visit:

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/3f6e25/sri_lanka_information_technology_report_q3_2011

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Outcome of UN Panel report falls far short of wisdom - Godfrey Gunatilleke - 16.08.2011

A wise judge knows that in the imperfect domain of human knowledge there are many versions of the truth and steers himself conscientiously through all these versions, seeking the truth. The outcome of the Panels’ report falls far short of such wisdom, Godfrey Gunatilleke said.
Gunatilleke, one of Sri Lanka’s and South Asia’s most respected intellectuals, a distinguished former civil servant, and founder of the country’s oldest independent think-tank, the MARGA Institute, made a sharply critical evaluation of the UNSG’s advisory Panel Report in an extended analysis entitled “Truth and Accountability: the Last Stages of the War in Sri Lanka.
[…] The root of the problems in the report lie in their outrageous interpretation of the government’s military strategy as designed at the extermination of Tamils without any humanitarian intention or effort at rescuing hostages. With this interpretation the panel puts on the blinkers that distort all their perceptions of the government’s actions.
The report also gives a deliberately truncated view of the government’s action by excluding what would have provided a different and more positive explanation of these actions. This deficiency is seen in every part of the report that deals with government actions,” he said.

Dr Godfrey Gunatilleke is the Chairman Emeritus and founder member of the Marga Institute (Centre of Development Studies, Sri Lanka).

At present, he is a Member of the Board of Trustees of the International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington and member of the WHO Task Force on Health in Development.

The author of several books, articles and publications on development issues, and an outstanding literary critic, his involvement in the literary field includes short stories such as “The Garden”, “Thief in the Night” and literary critical articles “Language without Metaphor”. Dr. Gunatilleke is a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Gratiaen Trust.

Please click here to read the working paper prepared by Godfrey Gunatilleke: http://www.srilankaembassy.fr/images/stories/headlines/Truth%20and%20Accountability.pdf

Courtesy: www.priu.gov.lk

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LLRC begun full scale investigation into Channel 4 - 15.08.2011

The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) has begun a full scale probe into the second video telecast by British Channel 4 titled ""Killing fields of Sri Lanka"".

According to LLRC spokesman, Lakshman Wickramasinghe, the Commission has completed the investigation into the first Channel 4 video and the second video is being examined by the Commission members.

He said the opinion of the Commission over the Channel 4 video would be incorporated in the final report which would be handed over to the President before the deadline.

Wickremesinghe added that the commissioners have already started writing the final report which will include details about the Commissions investigation into the Channel 4 videos and their views at length.

Courtesy: www.priu.gov.lk

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Emergency to be annulled soon - 10.08.2011

The government has already taken measures to revoke the emergency regulations in the near future, after consulting the Security Council, said Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne at the Parliament yesterday (August 9). He said that the government is taking measures to move the necessary motions in the Parliament without delay.
The Premier was presenting a motion to extend the State of Emergency by another one month. He stated that the emergency regulations imposed on August 13 and continued thereafter were downsized by a gazette notification on May 02, 2010. With this, several clauses of the State of Emergency were annulled while many of the other clauses were amended for the public welfare, following the elimination of LTTE terrorism on May 19, 2009. Since then, the State of Emergency was extended to maintain national security and public security, he added.
Moving on to the recently held Local Government elections, the Premier stressed the significance of the fact that the people in the North used their vote after 30 years to contribute to establishing democracy in the country.
It was a clear indication that they have understood that nothing would be gained by means of terrorism. Even though certain groups attempted to claim that this election was unfair, the public kept their trust in the government and enabled it to “secure a resounding victory”, he said. 8,491 former LTTE combatants have been integrated into society after rehabilitation, while another 3,173 who are currently being rehabilitated will be reintegrated into society soon, he added.
Despite the fact that the “LTTE terrorism is eliminated from our soil, certain pro-LTTE groups are attempting to breathe new life into the outfit operating from overseas… Father S.J. Emmanuel of Global Tamil Forum, V. Rudrakumaran of Transitional Government of Tamil Eelam, Suren Sevendran of British Tamil Forum and Nediyaran faction of Tamil National Council are trying to tarnish the image of the government”, he said.
Hostile forces against Sri Lanka used the Channel 4 video with the same objectives, and it will be countered by the Report published by the Defence Ministry, he said.
He also said that the Security Forces are still recovering hauls of weapons hidden by the LTTE and, investigations are still in progress to arrest former-LTTE cardres who had fled from the North during the Humanitarian Operation

Courtesy : www.priu.gov.lk

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150 rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres to be released - 10.08.2011

Another batch of 150 rehabilitated LTTE cadres will be reintegrated into society on Friday in Vavuniya.

Presently the ex-cadres in the rehabilitation process are undergoing a final test in mason skills, handicraft work and paintings Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe said.

The rehabilitated cadres have been given vocational, language and communication training to improve their skills and their educational knowledge.

Though there had been 24 rehabilitation centres for ex-LTTE combatants at the inception, there are only nine rehabilitation centres at present Major General Ranasinghe said.

According to the Commissioner General so far 7969 out of 11,700 surrendered LTTE cadres, have been released and further 2879, are being rehabilitated in camps. A sum of Rs.750 million has been allocated for the rehabilitation process for this year.
Meanwhile, one hundred and eight former members of LTTE are sitting for the GCE Advanced Level examination.
Over 50 percent of the rehabilitated ex-combatants had successfully completed the GCE Ordinary Level examination last December.

Courtesy : www.priu.gov.lk

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Minister Peiris calls on the international community to distinguish political agendas from genuine expressions of concern in the propaganda campaign carried out against Sri Lanka – 02.08.2011

The recent spate of unsubstantiated allegations on the last few days of the conflict levelled at the Government of Sri Lanka, need to be examined in terms of the political agenda behind such propaganda and distinguished from the genuine expressions of concern on humanitarian issues, observed External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris in his keynote address at the launch of the publication by the Ministry of Defence entitled “Humanitarian Operation: Factual Analysis – July 2006-May 2009” on 1st August. Elaborating he stated that the task of analysing where the political agendas end and norms of human rights begin has now become more crucial and this issue deserves to be judged dispassionately, without prejudice and bias. The External Affairs Minister recalled an observation made by the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson on the Goldstone Report on the Gaza issue, that it was guided “not by human rights but by politics”.
The Minister stated that Sri Lanka needs and its people demand objectivity in the assessment of material being put out in the public domain that this be without prejudice and bias. Drawing on the example of the recently concluded local government elections, prior to which a vigorous campaign was carried out that there was no prospect of a free and fair election being held, the Minister called upon critics to analyse its outcome. He pointed out there was a healthy voter turnout, including in the North where the first ever local government elections were held in those areas after a long interval. The fact that a number of candidates outside the ruling party were elected in the North demonstrated the free and fair nature of the polls.
Minister Peiris recalled that Sri Lanka has emerged from thirty years of conflict, where the terrorist group was fighting the legitimate Government of the country and this group lived by the ethos of “I kill, therefore I am”. This, he said, is the reality that seems to be ignored and the brutality of the LTTE over thirty years forgotten, with sole and exclusive focus on the last fourteen days of this conflict. The Minister pointed out the very different reactions that the Goldstone Report drew, in contrast to the Darusman report. The Minister referred to the US Secretary of State’s comments and the BBC’s observations on the Goldstone report, on the difficulty faced by legitimate governments fighting insurgent or terrorist groups that hide among civilians. He said that this consideration applies with even greater force to the Sri Lankan situation.
Referring to the latest Channel 4 video, the Minister called into question the shadowy figures claiming to be “eye witnesses” casting aspersions on the Security Forces and claiming to be privy to a conversation that purportedly took place between the Defence Secretary and the Commander of the 58 Division. He pointed out that the substance of this alleged conversation would not possibly have been within the knowledge of the persons claiming to make these revelations. He said that the suggestion relating to a meeting convened by Shavindra Silva with his soldiers on the beach is inherently incredible.
Minister Peiris called into question the timing pattern of the release of the four videos released by Channel 4 to coincide with major meetings and events with significance to Sri Lanka that were taking place in Western capitals: namely on the eve of the European Commission’s decision on the extension of GSP+ trade concession to Sri Lanka, the External Affairs Minister’s bilateral meeting with his British counterpart, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to London late last year, and most recently during the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association sessions in London. He said it can be clearly seen that an overt political agenda was behind the timing in the airing of these videos by Channel 4.
The External Affairs Minister stated that the recent allegations against the Government were drawn from testimonies shrouded in secrecy. In this context he questioned their credibility considering that such testimony could not be effectively challenged by Sri Lanka because of the fog of anonymity. Sri Lanka is similarly hampered in refuting the allegations made in the Darusman Report due to the 20-year confidentiality granted to those who had given testimony in flagrant violation of natural justice. He perceived this exercise as a pursuit of a naked political agenda and not a struggle for human rights.
He referred to an article by another former High Commissioner for Human Rights and present Head of the International Crisis Group, Louis Arbour, published in the ‘Johannesburg Times’ which was characterized by deep resentment against the family of the President and in effect, called for regime change. He reminded the audience that the successive election results demonstrated the increasing popularity of President Rajapaksa and his government in contrast with the phenomenon of diminishing returns ordinarily applicable to incumbent governments.
Minister Peiris further stated that the anti-Government propaganda was not in line with what had been said by international civil servants who were on ground at the time the conflict ended, as well as visitors to the combat areas in the North who saw first hand the developments taking place; whereas, those who made unsubstantiated allegations have never been to Sri Lanka or were not in the country at the relevant time. The Minister referred to the former Resident Representative of the UN in Sri Lanka Neil Buhne who had commended the Government for the speedy and professional action taken to alleviate the dire conditions surrounding the large number of displaced persons following the end of the conflict, which is in sharp contrast with the substance of critical reports.
The Minister said the Government is committed to doing many things for its people, not because of external pressure, but in the interest of the country. There is no need for pressure from external sources, he said. As an example, the Minister said the Government is moving rapidly on taking a decision to further relax Emergency Regulations. He further referred to the restrictions on foreign journalists’ travel to the North and fishing in that region being lifted, but regretted that there was no acknowledgement of these developments. He warned that there is no need to threaten the GoSL with economic sanctions and other punitive measures. Sri Lanka is a proud nation with a rich history and the necessary measures are being taken spontaneously and in a balanced way at the appropriate time.
He elaborated the main areas of the Government’s achievements after the conflict are visible: progress on humanitarian issues, achieved within the short span of two years since the conflict was brought to an end; economic and social development and the resuscitation of the economy in the North; and political developments in the North, with the democratic structure coming into place with the recent local government elections showing enthusiastic participation of the people in the democratic process: this was after a lapse of over thirty years where democracy had almost died in the North with the terrorist group annihilating nearly all the moderate Tamil political leadership that dared to go against its separatist ideology.
Professor Peiris said that the Government is at present engaged in substantive negotiations with the Tamil political parties, towards finding a political consensus. He stated that the Government is committed to holding all the remaining local government elections in the next few months, and the provincial council elections in the Northern Province thereafter.
He further drew attention to the fact that all these developments in former conflict areas, were taking place with a large investment of pecuniary resources on a scale not seen in development for over thirty years. The emotive hostile propaganda, he said, is the work of a section of the diaspora which has dedicated itself to the objective of stultifying the accelerated economic and social development on which the country has embarked. As far as this segment of the diaspora is concerned, the war which was earlier fought with weapons now assumes the form of an economic onslaught directed against the revival of our economy and upliftment of the livelihoods of our people.
Professor Peiris emphatically called on the international community not to be judgemental but to extend the hand of friendship and goodwill to take forward Sri Lanka at a decisive stage in its post-conflict phase.
A documentary produced by the Defence Ministry was shown on the humanitarian operation, providing visual evidence to show the misinformation being spread by the LTTE rump in western countries especially through Channel 4 UK. A large number of the Government Ministers, Members of Parliament, Senior Government officials, Security Force personnel, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society and NGO representatives and media were present at this launching ceremony.

Courtesy : Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka
Colombo

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List LTTE front organizations – SL updates request to EU , 02.08.2011

The Government yesterday updated its request to the European Union (EU) to list front organizations of the LTTE as terrorist entities, as they had done since 2006.
The request was made on July 28, 2011 as the EU re-listed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a terrorist entity through a regulation implemented by the Council on July 18 and published in the official journal of the European Union on July 19, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Brussels, Belgium said.
The specific regulation has noted that, ""the Council has carried out a complete review of the list of persons, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 applies, as required by Article 2(3) of that Regulation has provided all the persons, groups and entities for which it was practically possible with statements of reasons explaining why they were listed in Implementing Regulation (EU) No 83/2011"" and ""took account of observations submitted to it by the persons, groups and entities concerned"".
In similar action on July 6, the UK government re-listed the LTTE among the UKs ""proscribed terror groups or organizations"" based on the findings following a review carried out through the UK Strategy for Countering Terrorism (CONTEST), and presented to the Parliament on July 12.
In the recent update to its application for listing of LTTE front organizations handed over through the Sri Lanka Embassy in Brussels accredited to the EU, the government detailed action taken against the LTTE, activists of the LTTE/ LTTE front organizations, by member states of the EU, namely Belgium, Denmark, France, The Netherlands, Germany, UK, as well as other states namely, Canada, India, Norway, Switzerland and USA, further substantiating the active participation internationally, of LTTE front organizations in terrorism, including money laundering, financing of terrorism, and human smuggling activities that continue to be carried out for, or on behalf of, or at the behest of the LTTE, an EU listed terrorist organization.
It also highlighted action taken by the Sri Lankan government in response to specific requests for intelligence and judicial assistance received in connection with these investigations from the relevant authorities of The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland and Norway.
The governments submission also draws attention to references made to the LTTE in the EU Terrorism Trend and Situation Report 2011 (TE-SAT 2011), published by Europol in April 2011, in the context of fund raising, organized criminal activities in Europe, use of media networks for propaganda, as well as the connections between terrorist groups such as the LTTE and the PKK in organized criminal activities. According to the Report, in 2010 ""27 individuals were arrested for terrorist offences linked to the financing of LTTE in France, Germany and the Netherlands.""
The government has noted that the persons arrested by the European and other authorities, have all been found to be members of the Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC), the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), the Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO) and/or other LTTE front organizations, amply demonstrating that the activities of the LTTE front organizations are carried out for or on behalf of, or at the behest of the LTTE, which although militarily defeated in Sri Lanka, continues to be active internationally, particularly through its network of front organizations, espousing the ideology of the LTTE, using LTTE money and being manipulated by the LTTEs surviving leaders.

Courtesy : www.priu.gov.lk

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Humanitarian Operation was comprehensively just’, Utmost care to keep collateral damage at minimum’ - 02.08.2011

Sri Lanka engaged in a military strategy against the LTTE as a last resort, after enduring decades of violence and terrorism committed against its citizens and the state. The LTTE attacks are illustrative of the sheer scale of intensity on civilians, political leaders, political leaders, political opponents and vital infrastructure, stated ‘Humanitarian Operation Factual Analysis: July 2006–May 2009’, a report published by Ministry of Defence today (August 1).
Among the highlights of the report are :
• Successive governments of Sri Lanka were willing and eager to negotiate with the LTTE for the sake of achieving peace… the LTTE never intended to settle for anything less than a military victory to achieve its aims of a separate state.
• Security Forces took utmost care prior to, during and after the operation to keep collateral damage at a minimum, having regard to the Zero Civilian Causality Policy of the Government.
• Sri Lanka used military force at the point when it was necessary to defend its citizens and state from the LTTE.
• Military victory required a large-scale, coordinated effort, combining the strength of all three armed forces, a high level of discipline and the use of multiple tactics, adapted for different terrains and contexts.
The report states that despite the enormity of the losses suffered and tribulations endured by Sri Lanka and its people because of LTTE attacks and threats of attacks, successive governments of Sri Lanka were willing and eager to negotiate with the LTTE for the sake of achieving peace. It emphasizes the fact that the LTTE never intended to settle for anything less than a military victory to achieve its aims of a separate state.

“Having exhausted all alternatives, Sri Lanka used military force at the point when it was necessary to defend its citizens and state from the LTTE. The amount of force used was determined based on a consideration of the strength, resources and sophistication of the LTTE,” the report says.

It provides details about LTTE’s human resources, weapons, funding sources and other resources, and explains why defeating the LTTE could not be achieved with a minimal operation or single act. It says, “military victory required a large-scale, coordinated effort, combining the strength of all three armed forces, a high level of discipline and the use of multiple tactics, adapted for different terrains and contexts”.

It states that recognizing the amount of force necessary for a Humanitarian Operation of this magnitude, Security Forces were equally aware of the possible adverse consequences of such force–namely, civilian causalities. “As a result, Security Forces took utmost care prior to, during and after the operation to keep collateral damage at a minimum, having regard to the Zero Civilian Causality Policy of the Government. This is documented by the precautions taken before the operation, the specific guidelines issued and the tactics employed in the Humanitarian Operation”.

According to the report, Security Forces have adapted their tactics and the level of force in different environments and at different states of the Operation. “The threat of the LTTE remained until the last hour, and certain success required continued, focused and disciplined force to meet the new challenge created by the LTTE: the thousands of civilians trapped by, and exposed to imminent harm and violence at the hands of a desperate LTTE, had to be skillfully extricated from a precarious situation”, it says. “Security forces successfully met this challenge by using the right amount of force, and minimizing the resulting losses.”

“The result for the civilians, and for Sri Lanka, has been overwhelmingly positive. Thousands of lives that would have been lost had terrorism continued and war remained in Sri Lanka, have been saved. The quality of life of all Sri Lankans as well as Sri Lanka’s prospects in the world economy have markedly improved. The positive consequences of the Humanitarian Operation described in this report are representative and not exhaustive; the benefits of defeating terrorism are immeasurable”, the report reveals.

In sums up with the conclusion that “from the initial rationale for undertaking an operation utilizing military force, to the amount of force used during the operation, to the eventual result, this report has shown how, in all respects, the Humanitarian Operation was just”.

Speaking at the release of this report, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa noted that the rump of the LTTE together with some factions of the Tamil Diaspora aligned with “Western interests” is still working to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka. Rejecting the recent allegations raised by the Channel 4 video documentary as “malign and absurd”, he stressed that the Government has taken the utmost care not only in regard to citizens victimized by the LTTE but also those who were directly connected with the LTTE.

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L.Peiris emphasized the need to demarcate between political agenda and genuine concerns with humanitarian norms. He requested the international community to be objective and dispel the mist of prejudice in its treatment of the post-conflict Sri Lankan situation.

Present at the release of the report were members of the diplomatic corps, the media, representatives of the clergy and NGOs.

Courtesy : www.priu.gov.lk

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Sri Lanka to promote trade in Africa: Visit of Sri Lankan Business Delegation to South Africa

The visit of Sri Lankan Business delegation to South Africa is a joint initiative of the Sri Lanka High Commission in Pretoria and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, EDB, for participation of Sri Lankan exporters at the SAITEX 2011 International Trade fair, held in Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand from 17-19July, 2011.

Eight companies representing various sectors, such as electrical cables, porcelain tableware, Ceylon tea, coconut- and coir-based products, rubber based value added products, plastic wares, herbal preparations, spices, food & beverages exhibited their products at the Sri Lanka pavilion.

The main objective of this delegation is to enable business people from both countries to build relationship and trust while exploring mutually beneficial business opportunities.

The delegation had wide range of interactions with the members of South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI), the largest National Chamber in South Africa and the Minara Chamber of Commerce in South Africa during their stay. Further, the delegation was able to interact with dominant retailers in African continent such as SPAR and Pick n Pay to explore the business opportunities for Sri Lanka.

During above interactions, the delegation was able to consolidate the existing business opportunities and explore new ventures. The delegation is highly satisfied with the achievement that they made in South Africa and expressed their willingness to continue the business relationship for mutual benefits for both countries.

His Excellency the High Commissioner of South Africa for Sri Lanka Geoff Doidge received the opportunity to meet the delegation during his official visit to Pretoria along with the officials of Department of the International Relations and Cooperation and the Department of Trade and Industry and discussed the potential opportunities that have for both countries to strengthen the relationship on trade & commerce.

High Commission of Sri Lanka
Pretoria, South Africa
26.07.2011

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The total number of IDPs has declined to 9, 287 as of today – 27.07.2011

The total number of IDPs has declined to 9, 287 as of today (July 27).

This number includes 9, 191 IDPs in Menik Farm Relief Village and 96 IDPs in Jaffna Ramavil transit camp.

The Government has resettled and released 271, 199 IDPs so far under its programme for the speed resettlement. The Government reunited the IDPs who were released for humanitarian reasons with their relations.

Accordingly, 233, 628 IDPs from Vavuniya, Mannar, Trincomalee and other districts have been resettled in their places of origin.

9,851 IDPs in the Jaffna district have been resettled in their places of origin such as Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya and Trincomalee

Courtesy : www.priu.gov.lk

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Rehabilitation of KKS Harbour inaugurated - 27.07.2011

The rehabilitation of the Kankasanthurai harbour was inaugurated yesterday.
Following on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and an Agreement on July 21 between India and Sri Lanka for the rehabilitation of the KKS Harbour, Sri Lankan Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa and High Commissioner of India Ashok K. Kantha inaugurated the work on the wreck-removal and salvage portion of the project at a ceremony in Kankasanthurai.
The LTTE sank six ships in the harbour and in its channel between 1994 and 1996.
A press release issued by the Indian High Commission in Colombo said India has made available Rs. 2.18 billion (US$19 million) as a fully grant-funded project for the wreck removal work in Kankasanthurai. India has also funded an initial hydrographic survey, completed in June-July 2010.
The agreement was a result of President Mahinda Rajapaksas visit to India in June 2010. In the Joint Declaration issued during his visit India has agreed to extend assistance for the rehabilitation of the Kankasanthurai Harbour among other infrastructure projects in the Northern Province.
In his remarks after the signing ceremony, Minister Rajapaksa expressed the appreciation of the Government of Sri Lanka for the assistance being provided for this important project by the Government of India.
He said that the Government and people of India had always supported the development efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka. While noting that India was involved with a number of other development activities in the Northern Province as well as in other parts of Sri Lanka, he said that with Indian assistance, Kankasanthurai would become a bigger and better port and be able to function as the hub of economic development in the Northern Province.
High Commissioner Kantha said that the signature of agreements last week to formalize this MoU and the commencement of work earlier today were a reflection of the commitment of the Government of India to assist the Government and people of Sri Lanka, especially in the Northern Province, as they seek to recover from years of conflict and restore peace, stability and development in the country.
""Restoration of physical infrastructure at the Harbour would contribute towards the reconstruction efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka, promote normalcy in northern Sri Lanka by restoring traditional commercial linkages, both domestic and regional and give a fillip to economic activity by encouraging trade,"" the High Commissioner said.
The High Commissioner appreciated the strong support and cooperation extended by the Government of Sri Lanka at every stage of project formulation and preparation and noted the key role played by the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Ports and Highways, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
Once fully functional, Kankasanthurai will be the nearest port for all eastern ports in India, as well as for Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Also present at the ceremony were Minister of Traditional Industries & Small Enterprise Development, Mr. Douglas Devananda, Governor of the Northern Province, Major General (Rtd) G.A Chandrasiri, Deputy Minister of Ports and Highways, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Secretary of Ministry of Ports and Highways, Mrs. Sujatha Cooray, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama, senior civil and military officials of Jaffna, as well as the political leadership of the area.

Courtesy : WWW.priu.gov.lk

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LLRC preparing to hand over the report - 22.07.2011

The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) has finished gathering evidence and prepares to hand over its report to the President in November.
The LLRC spokesman Lakshman Wickremasinghe has said that the Commission has stopped gathering evidence from the public now as they have enough information to compile a report and give recommendations, Xinhua reported.
Wickremasinghe has told Xinhua that the final report of the commission including the recommendations will be completed by November this year and handed over to President Rajapaksa.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed the LLRC in May 2010 to probe the events in the period between 21st February 2002 to 19th May 2009 and report on the lessons to be learnt from those events and whether any person, group, or institution directly or indirectly bears responsibility for those events.
The LLRC held its first sittings on August 11, 2010. In November 2010, the President extended its mandate till May 15, 2011.

Courtesy: www.priu.gov.lk

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Development Bonds oversubscribed - This reflects high levels of investor confidence in SL’s economy ; CB Governor - 22.07.2011

Sri Lanka successfully launched and priced a US$ 1.0 billion 10-year global bond offering. The issue has been oversubscribed by 7.5 times thus resulting in the final order-book standing at US$ 7.5 billion dollars.

This transaction represents the fourth US Dollar benchmark offering in the global bond markets by Sri Lanka since 2007, stated the Central Bank.

On the back of overwhelming support, Sri Lanka succeeded in pricing the issue to yield 6.25%, the tight end of the final guidance, the Bank further said.

The Central Bank also said distribution was very well diversified, with Asia taking 27%, Europe 30% and the US at 43%. Fund Managers were the largest investors in the transaction, representing 86%, with Banks/Private Banks taking 8%, Corporates 3% and Insurance companies 3%, the Bank added.

With this transaction Sri Lanka succeeded in achieving a cost of funds more than 40 bps lower, as a margin over the US Treasury, compared to Sri Lanka’s last 10-year bond offering in September 2010, which was issued at a spread of +373.1 bps. This achievement is all the more impressive, given the volatility seen in markets globally in recent months.

“We are very pleased with the strong response to this transaction, in volatile market conditions, which reflects high levels of investor confidence in Sri Lanka’s economy and the robust growth prospects for the country,” said Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Governor of the Central Bank.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays Capital, HSBC and the Royal Bank of Scotland acted as joint bookrunners and joint lead managers on the transaction. Bank of Ceylon acted as the co-manager on the transaction.

Prior to launch of the transaction, Sri Lanka conducted a series of fixed income investor update meetings with investors in Singapore, Hong Kong, various cities in the USA and London. During the roadshow, Sri Lanka achieved a credit ratings upgrade by Fitch to BB-, and both the Moody’s and S&P ratings were improved to positive outlook, the Bank said.

Courtesy: www.priu.gov.lk

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Construction of Kilinochchi international sports complex inaugurated - 21.07.2011

President Mahinda Rajapaksa inaugurated the construction of Kilinochchi sports complex yesterday.
The complex, first international level facility in the Northern Province, will be built at a cost of 325 million rupees.
The complex will consist 8 tracks and the indoor stadium will have facilities for 25 sporting events. It will also have an international standard swimming pool and many other facilities.
""This sports complex will stand out as further proof of our commitment to strengthening the peace we have achieved as a nation, and taking the dividends of peace to all sections of the people; especially to those who were worst affected by the conflict that deprived them of progress through nearly three decades,"" President Rajapaksa said in a message.

It is symbolic of the new spirit of peace and freedom, that Kilinochchi, once the stronghold of terror, will soon be a major hub of sports in the North of our country, he further said.

This project is part of an initiative by the Government to build 324 sports facilities at District Secretariat level, 24 at District level, and nine sports complexes with the best of facilities at Provincial level.

Courtesy : www.priu.gov.lk

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Overseas Clothing Retailers start lining back at Sri Lankan doors - 21.07.2011

The Sri Lankan apparel manufacturing sector, which suffered a setback following the global economic turmoil in 2008, has started luring back overseas buyers, who had shifted their sourcing to other cost-competitive Asian countries.
“Mainly, Sri Lanka apparel’s overall offer is still relevant with our customers and they have a long and strong relationship with the vendor base here. Sri Lanka’s industry has also proven to be extremely resilient under trying conditions and continues to be a reliable supplier”, says Mr. M Raghuraman, CEO - Corporate Marketing & Branding, Brandix Lanka Ltd.
He continued by saying, “Actually Sri Lanka’s exports to Europe continued to grow in spite of the recession and the withdrawal of GSP+ benefits. In 2005, when the country gained duty-free status to Europe, apparel exports posted US $1billion revenues in the year.

“In 2009, at the height of the recession, Sri Lanka’s exports to the EU stood at US $1.65 billion which was a 3% growth over the previous year and in 2010, despite the negative sentiment created with the removal of the duty free concession, our exports maintained the growth level of 3% over 2009.

“The first four months of this year also shows a strong growth. There are many contributory factors to this sustained growth with key retailers re-stocking their inventory and a number of supplier nations having issues with rising cost and labor unrests etc”.
When asked as to how, they could capture the emerging growth in their key market, he said, “The industry is continuously exploring avenues of increasing the value-add for the customer. We are placed in a winning region as apparel exports out of the region are over US $40 billion.
“Sri Lanka’s strategic location and as a shipping hub, offers many ways in which we can leverage the strengths of the region and make an overall compelling offer. We aim to build on offering product design and innovation, value-added services to the regional players and in turn to our customers.
“The decades long relationships we have built with our customers have moved from mere transactional to more strategic partnerships. So by adding more value we are likely to not only grow with our existing customers but also to attract new customers. H&M, the largest and fastest growing European retailer, this year established a sourcing office in Sri Lanka which emphasizes the level of confidence placed in our industry.

To our enquiry as to whether their old customers would have returned and placed new orders, he informed, “Our strategy is to establish relationships with our customers that are narrow and deep so generally with this type of commitment both players are in for the duration. The recession has affected both the customers and the vendor base, but if the relationship is a strategic one, then both parties work together to weather it out.
“So, I don’t believe our country has witnessed any customers moving away. If any do, it is if and when the strategic fit is no longer relevant, but as long as we continue to evolve to provide the changing demands of the customer then the business stays and grows”, he summed up by saying, Indian media reports.

Courtesy: www.adaderana.lk

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Supporting dubious propagandist material puts Intl. HR institutes credibility at risk – Dr. Kohona – 20.07.2011

Organizations such as Amnesty International (AI), Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the International Crisis Group (ICG) placed their credibility at risk by lending their support for dubious and propagandist material manufactured from suspect sources and promoting such dubious material for whatever reason run the risk of antagonizing their support base, said Dr. Palitha Kohona, the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations.

Responding to the Head of Amnesty International, United Nations Office, Jose Luis Diaz on Sri Lanka’s response to allegations of human rights violations and war crimes, Dr. Kohona said without the endorsement of the AI, HRW and the ICG, the Channel-4 producer Callum Mcrae’s efforts to screen the video in different places would not have succeeded.

Dr. Kohona asked Mr. Diaz and the INGOs not to take on the role of persecuting Sri Lanka without solid facts. He said that because Sri Lanka valued the honour of its security forces, it did not wish to see its military forces which numbered over 200,000 honest and decent men and women and who fought a brutal terrorist group bravely and at immense cost in lives to achieve peace impugned in this manner.

Sri Lanka has always been strongly supportive of the advancement of human rights both domestically and internationally, Dr. Kohona said.

""Sri Lanka was a party to seven core human rights treaties and has been for many years. It was a party to the critical Geneva Conventions. These will govern Sri Lanka’s attitudes"", he added.

The Head of Amnesty International met with Dr. Kohona, to initiate a dialogue on issues relating to Sri Lanka, particularly those arising from the screening of the Channel-4 video, stated the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations.

This contact followed the comments made by Permanent Representative, Ambassador Palitha Kohona and Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador Shavendra Silva, at the screening of the Channel-4 video at the UN Church Centre last month.

Sri Lanka has always sought to be transparent and engage with the international community on these issues. The President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, a committed human rights activist, had himself led delegations to Geneva to advocate human rights issues. Many special representatives of the High Commissioner for Human Rights have visited Sri Lanka on invitation. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay, has been invited to visit Sri Lanka and will undertake a trip in 2012, Dr. Kohona said.

Asked about Sri Lankas response to those who feel that the events close to the end of the conflict must be thoroughly investigated in order to prevent Sri Lanka becoming a model in similar conflict situations, Ambassador Kohona emphasized that Sri Lanka prides itself on being governed by the rule of law and by a long established legal tradition. Sri Lanka had no intention of being a model to anyone else. For example, following complaints about a breach of the UN rules of conduct by some of its troops in Haiti, 110 were recalled immediately and investigated and many were punished. For any matter to be taken before the juridical system, like in other countries, credible evidence was required, Dr. Kohona stated.

The Channel-4 video, and the Darusman Report, were flawed due to serious inaccuracies, unsubstantiated allegations, suspect footage, and simple interpretations, some of it clearly taken from the Tamil Net, the propaganda arm of the LTTE. It was doubtful that the Channel-4 footage offered the kind of credible evidence that would stand scrutiny before the courts. Equally importantly, given the country’s limited resources and the urgency of other pressing issues, it was simply wrong and unethical to pile up pressure only in one area, he said.

Speaking with regard to priorities that Sri Lanka had to address immediately with the end of the conflict Dr. Kohona said, these included providing urgent humanitarian assistance to the IDPS, including food, clothing, shelter, medical care etc., returning IDPS to their villages and homes, many of which were in dilapidated condition, rehabilitating former child soldiers and adult cadres, clearing landmines, restoring infrastructure, and ensuring the uninterrupted provision of basic services to facilitate the speedy return to normalcy. Many of these have been achieved with remarkable speed and at significant cost. As a responsible democracy prioritization was essential, he said.

Accountability issues are being addressed through a domestic process, the LLRC, which has the mandate to deal with infractions of domestic and international standards. It was Sri Lanka’s sovereign responsibility to address such issues itself in the first instance. Mr. Diaz agreed.

A Special Unit has been established in the Attorney General’s Department for the purpose of investigating matters referred to it by the LLRC. What the LLRC, needed was time and space and stability to deal with these issues, not undue pressure. Piling up pressure on Sri Lanka unreasonably will not achieve results. The country and the people were going through a healing process and there was widespread resentment of external interventions, the Ambassador said.

Ambassador Kohona concluded that judging by the vigor of the Channel 4 campaign and actions of its co-sponsors, the sole aim appeared to be to discredit Sri Lanka. This was also a goal consistent with the aims of the rump LTTE. Sri Lanka had not sought to end the conflict militarily but was compelled to do so after being rebuffed repeatedly as it tried to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict. While Sri Lankan delegations had attended negotiations three times in 2006, (one delegation was led by Dr. Kohona himself), the LTTE had persisted with a relentless terrorist offensive. Exhorting the AI to remain a responsible and credible organization, Ambassador Kohona pointed out that certain developed countries, despite being better resourced, had taken much longer to address alleged infractions of international standards.

Sri Lanka with its limited resources was now being pushed to do the same things in a much shorter period compared with others despite having to address a much more complex range of demands. The LLRC will conclude its work in accordance with its mandate but Sri Lanka needed space and time to deal with these issues. He welcomed the AI to stay engaged in an open and transparent dialogue with Sri Lanka.

Courtesy : www.priu.gov.lk

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Jaffna ready for peaceful LG election"" – GA – 20.07.2011

All necessary measures have already been taken to conduct a peaceful election in Jaffna district, District Secretary and Government Agent Jaffna Mrs. Emelda Sukumar said.
Speaking to media the Government Agent said that sufficient number of officials will be coming from outstations within next few days to assist local election officials in Jaffna.
Additional Police personnel have been deployed to ensure security and to maintain law and order during the election period, she further said.
The local government election is scheduled to be held on 23rd July, 2011 and 449234 voters in Jaffna are to be cast their vote to select 29 members for 3 Urban Councils and 172 members for 13 Pradeshiya Sabhas.

Courtesy; Ministry of Defence

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Fitch upgrades Sri Lanka’s Sovereign Rating - 19.07.2011

Fitch Ratings has upgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to ‘BB-‘from ‘B+’, stated the Central Bank.

The outlooks on these ratings are ‘Stable’. Further, Fitch has upgraded the Country Ceiling to ‘BB-‘ from ‘B+’ and affirmed the Short-Term Foreign-Currency IDR at ‘B’, the Bank said.

Fitch’s decision to upgrade the ratings has been based on the stabilization and recovery of the economy and increased efforts by the Government to bring down the budget deficit, Central Bank added.

The Central Bank welcomes the upgrade and is confident that the measures taken towards the macroeconomic stability and improvement of the economy over the past several years would yield further favourable results in coming years.
The Bank attributed the global rating agencies decisions to the greater macroeconomic and financial stability brought by the peace dividend after the end of three-decade long war in May 2009.
Another factor was the policy orientation of fiscal reform and economic growth, adjusted to fit the IMF program that provided the country with a 2.6 billion-dollar Stand-by Arrangement.
The Bank also said the improving external payments position and the reduction in political event risk following the end of the civil war contributed to the rating agencies decision to upgrade the ratings.

Meanwhile, Moodys Investors Service has upgraded outlook of Sri Lanka’s B1 foreign currency sovereign rating from ‘Stable’ to ‘Positive’.
On 14 September, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) also upgraded Sri Lanka’s long-term foreign currency sovereign credit rating to B+ and the long term local currency rating to BB- with a stable outlook.
The economy grew by 7.9 percent during the first quarter of 2011 compared to the 7.1 percent recorded in the same period of 2010.

Courtesy: www.priu.gov.lk

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Sri Lanka ports can benefit from South-South trade - SCB report - 19.7.2011

The port expansion projects in Colombo and Hambantota can benefit from expanding regional trade as India and China grows, a media report said.

South-South trade could account for 40 percent of world trade in 2030 from 18 percent now, according to a Standard Chartered Bank report quoted by Bloomberg, a news service.
Regional growth can support Sri Lanka ports even as US struggles with 9.2 percent unemployment, the report said.
Sri Lanka straddles the main East-West sea route that has brought sea farers to the country from ancient times.
Sri Lanka is expanding container capacity in Colombo with a 500 million dollar new terminal.
In 2010 container volumes in Colombo rose 22 percent to 4.16 million twenty foot equivalent units as the countrys own external trade recovered. Colombo is expected to expand capacity to 10.8 million TEUs by 2015.
At the time a new port in Hambantota would bring the total capacity up to 12.8 million TEUs, Bloomberg quoted Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Priyath Wickrema as saying.
""Hambantota is the most suitable location to feed the Indian subcontinent,” Wickrama was quoted as saying.
""A combination of Colombo and Hambantota will compete with Dubai, Salalah (in Oman) and Singapore.""
Though India is also building deep water ports, the countrys external trade is expected to rise to 1.1 trillion dollars by 2014, boosting freight volumes to 1.2 billion metric tonnes from 544 million last year.
""We want Sri Lanka to be a mega port to feed this region,” he said. “We have a huge market here in South Asia,"" the Ports Chairman said.

Courtesy: www.priu.gov.lk

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SL credit raised to positive - Moodys 18.07.2011

Sri Lankas sovereign rating outlook was raised to positive from stable by Moodys Investors Service, which cited a ""peace dividend"" of greater economic and financial stability.
On 14 September, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) upgraded Sri Lanka’s long-term foreign currency sovereign credit rating to B+ and the long term local currency rating to BB- with a stable outlook.
""Sri Lanka has started to reap a peace dividend that has accrued to the economy and the security environment,"" Moodys said in a statement. ""The economy is expected to grow sustainably at around 8 to 9 percent over the medium term as confidence is further bolstered and investment picks up.""
Central bank Governor Nivard Cabraal forecasts economic growth to accelerate to 8.5 percent this year, from a 32-year high of 8 percent in 2010, because of rising demand and investment after the conflict.
Sri Lanka received a record $236 million of foreign direct investment in the first quarter of 2011, with the tourism industry attracting most of the inflows, the Board of Investment said June 7.
Sri Lanka is a good story. We would like to see if the improved peace conditions can also attract more foreign direct investment and tourism, Morten Bugge, chief investment officer at Kolding, Denmark-based Global Evolution AS said.
The country also has “high growth, attractive labor costs and a unique strategic geographical location that could be the opportunity for the future, especially in port activities,” he further said.

Courtesy: www.priu.gov.lk

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US policy towards SL should focused on supporting reconciliation – US Congressman - 18. 07.2011

Congressman Heath Shuler in a letter has informed the U.S. Congress that the U.S. policy on Sri Lanka should focus on supporting the ongoing reconciliation efforts in the country. Also, he has emphasised that the U.S. should strive to strengthen the relationship with its long-time ally in the South Asia.

The letter addressed to all congressmen was released on Friday (15 July) prior to a screening of a propaganda video against Sri Lanka at Capitol Hill. The sources in the Washington D.C. said the event was organized by the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. The organizers barred any representation from the Sri Lankan government at the panel discussion, the sourced added.

According to the sources, Congressman Shuler has decided to share his own experience over Sri Lanka with his colleagues, after he felt the biased and misleading nature of the event. Congressman Shuler was the first U.S. Congressman to visit Sri Lanka after the war ended in May 2009. Accompanied by Ambassador Jaliya Wickrmasuriya, he travelled the war affected areas and met large number internally displaced people.
Full text of the letter:

Dear Colleague
Today, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International -USA are screening a controversial documentary about Sri Lanka. There is a great deal of misinformation and debate about what occurred during the final days of Sri Lankas civil war. I am not an expert in international law or Southeast Asia, but I do wish to share what I have seen with my own eyes.
In May of 2009, I visited Sri Lanka just Days after the 26-year civil conflict against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (""Tamil Tigers"") ended. I saw the toll that the 26-year long terror campaign waged by the Tamil tigers had on the nation. Our own government designated the Tigers as one of the worlds worst terror groups. The Tigers invented the suicide bombers vest. Over the past quarter of a century, the Tigers rained terror on the nation, including suicide bombing, summary executions, ethnic cleansing, recruitment of child soldiers, drug smuggling, piracy, international money laundering. The Tamil Tigers embraced brutal tactics like the use of child soldiers and female suicide bombers. The terrorists killed a long list of government officials, including a Sri Lankan president, a foreign minister and former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. In the final phase of the war, the Tigers took nearly 145,000 Tamil civilian hostages as a human shield.
When I arrived in Sri Lanka, after the end of the war, the optimism and hope of the Sri Lankan people was palpable. With the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, for the first time in decades Sri Lankans felt safe from terror. Even the Tamils I met in the recently constructed IDP camps felt optimistic about the future of their country, knowing that security would bring much-needed progress to everyone in the country.
Since my visit, I have been following the progress Sri Lanka has made. Sri Lanka is the only democracy to have defeated a terrorist organization in recent memory. Since the end of the civil war, there has not been a single terrorist attack in Sri Lanka. Based on news accounts and UN documents, almost all of the 300,000 internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka have returned to their homes, over 11,000 former LTTE fighters and child soldiers have been rehabilitated and re-integrated into society, and nearly 60% of the 2 million landmine have been cleared. The government has established a commission to investigate wrongdoing conducted by both sides during the conflict and to foster national healing and reconciliation.
Neighbored by Pakistan, Afghanistan and China, Sri Lanka is an enduring democracy and long time ally of the U.S. In this region of the world, we cannot discount our long- standing and strategic relationship with Sri Lanka, Including naval and Intelligence Corporation. Based on my experience on the ground, I believe U.S.
Policy towards Sri Lanka should be focused on supporting their ongoing efforts towards reconciliation and engagement with the United State. As we work together to develop our policy on Sri Lanka, I am happy to tell you about my experience there. If you are interested in arranging a meeting with me to discuss Sri Lanka, Please do not hesitate to contact Julie Fishman in my office at Juile.fishman@mail.house.gov. or 225-6401.

Courtesy: Ministry of Defence/ www.priu.gov.lk

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MoD lifts travel restrictions on diplomats travelling to North – 15.07.2011

Pre-travel approval for diplomats, INGOs/NGOs has been lifted from yesterday, facilitating North bound travel without producing a Ministry of Defense (MOD) travel approval document.

The Ministry of Defence lifted the imposed pre-travel approval exclusively for foreign passport holders last week.

However, the individuals and groups plan to visit military installations in the North or meet with military officials will still require approval from the Defence Ministry.

Courtesy: www.priu.gov.lk

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Others cannot solve our problems for us – Indian PM - 11.07.2011

South Asian nations must make greater efforts to fight terrorism without relying on outside help, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.

Stressing that South Asia could prosper as a whole, the Indian Prime Minister said there was a need to develop a culture in which the countries involved would be able to tackle the regions deep frictions.

The scourge of terrorism has taken a huge toll on all our societies. It is a cancer, that if not checked, will consume us all, he told a SAARC gathering.

""I would like to believe that we have the will and foresight to prevent such an outcome. Others cannot solve our problems for us,"" he said.

Prime Minister Singh added the regions youthful population was an opportunity but also a challenge.

Disaffection and alienation provide a fertile breeding ground for intolerance, violence and terrorism which then threaten our societies, AFP reported quoting the Indian Prime Minister.

Courtesy : www.priu.gov.lk

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Most missing Tamil children were recruited by LTTE - UNICEF - 11.07.2011

The majority of complaints received from Tamil speaking parents related to children forcibly recruited by the LTTE, a study by UNICEF in collaboration with the Northern Provincial Department of Probation and Child Care and Government Agent of Vavuniya has revealed.
Of 676 complaints regarding missing children, about 64 per cent related to ex-LTTE child soldiers. UNICEF has facilitated re-unification of 78 children with their families.
UNICEF says it launched the project in Dec. 2009 in response to a spate of tracing requests received since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009. It believes in spite of difficulties in tracking down those listed missing, more children could be found and re-united with their families.
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, in an exclusive interview with The Sunday Island expressed satisfaction that the UN agency had received the required assistance from the Northern Provincial administration. Those shedding crocodile tears for their personal and political gain should throw their weight behind the UNICEF effort to track down missing children, he said.
""We never interfered with the UNICEF-led Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR) project,"" he declared.
The following are excerpts of the interview:
Q: Who called for the inquiry?
A: UNICEF initiated the project in response to pleas by those trying to locate their children. Recently I had an opportunity to discuss the FTR project with the Colombo-based head of the UNICEF. We really appreciate their intervention and help to locate missing children over the years. In spite of a large scale poster campaign in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, UNICEF received 2,564 tracing applications, including 676 regarding missing children. The rest were adults. There’s no doubt that some of the missing adults were LTTE cadres.
Q: Did those looking for missing children come across any evidence to suggest they fought for the LTTE?
A: According to a UNICEF analysis, the vast majority of those listed as missing were between 16 and 18-years old. But the most important factor is that 64 per cent of those seeking to locate their children alleged the LTTE took them away during war.
Q: Had there been any cases investigated by the UNICEF relating to children missing before eruption of Eelam War IV in Aug. 2006?
A: Had there been a genuine attempt by international and local sponsors of the LTTE at least after the Norway arranged CFA came into operation in Feb. 2002, lives of thousands of children could have been saved. A case in point is the story of a girl and her younger brother taken away by the LTTE from the East to Vanni during Eelam War IV. After the killing of their father in May 2005 in Batticaloa, the LTTE had handed over the children to an orphanage as their mother was away in the Middle East. As the LTTE retreated from the East, it had moved the children to Sencholai before being taken to Vanni East. After the collapse of the LTTE in May 2009, UNICEF had helped their mother, who returned from overseas, to find her children accommodated at orphanages at Vavuniya and Mannar.
Responding to another query, the Defence Secretary said that that the gradual transformation of the LTTE from a hit and run outfit to a conventional fighting formation largely depended on massive recruitment of children to its fighting ranks. Although the UN had raised the issue with the LTTE following protests by Tamil families as well as successive governments, the global community never succeeded in stopping this strategy until Sri Lanka finished off the LTTE in May 2009.
""Child recruitment continued even weeks before the conclusion of the conflict,’’ the Defence Secretary said.
He said that for want of punitive action as well as negligence on the part of those responsible for children’s welfare, the LTTE had an opportunity to build a fighting force comprising of over 30,000 personnel at the onset of Eelam War IV.
""Although during a visit to Sri Lanka in 1998, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Olara Otunnu, obtained an assurance from the LTTE that gave hope for an improvement in the situation of children, the LTTE continued to recruit children in the ensuing three years,’’ Rajapaksa said.
`On a visit to North in Feb. 2001, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Andre Roberfroid met senior representatives of the LTTE to express the UN’s growing concerns. But the LTTE continued recruitment.’’
The Defence Secretary said that the Norwegian arranged CFA backed by the US, EU and Japan, gave the LTTE an opportunity to step up child recruitment under the very noses of Nordic truce monitoring mission.
Those attacking Sri Lanka on the human rights front could easily obtain data relating to complaints received by the Norwegian-led monitoring mission, he said.
""As far as I remember, there were thousands of complaints regarding children and young adults abducted by the LTTE, though they couldn’t intervene,"" the Defence Secretary said.
Referring to how a European country had intervened to save the life of an EPRLF MP years ago, though the LTTE subsequently killed him and his wife in Colombo, the Defence Secretary said that the bottom line was that those wanting to haul up Sri Lanka before an international war crimes tribunal never wanted to deny the LTTE wherewithal to wage war.
""What Prabhakaran couldn’t have achieved with 100 rounds of heavy artillery he realized by using a brain-washed child suicide cadre. Had the international community brought enough pressure on the LTTE by taking punitive action against its overseas network, which raised funds for procurement of arms, ammunition and equipment, the LTTE would have been forced to scale down child recruitment,’’ Rajapaksa said.
The Defence Secretary suggested that those targeting Sri Lanka on accountability issues, too, should be investigated for their complicity in the LTTE build-up.
Commenting on post-war rehabilitation of ex-LTTE cadres, the Defence Secretary said that Sri Lanka was grateful to International Organization for Migration (IOM) for assisting ex-LTTE cadres. Appreciating assistance extended by the international community in this regard, the Defence Secretary said that Tamil Diaspora should support the project aimed at helping those who once fought for the LTTE. Unfortunately they weren’t interested in helping ex-LTTE cadres but destabilizing post-war Sri Lanka, he said.
Those seeking war crimes investigation here should make a genuine effort to establish the total number of LTTE cadres killed in action during the conflict, including the deployment of the IPKF from July 1987 to March 1990, he said.
They should also establish the number of Tamil speaking people killed in fighting among various Tamil groups.
A section of the international community and the Tamil Diaspora were making a desperate bid to portray all Tamils killed in the conflict as civilians.
""The question is whether the world want us to believe we lost 6,000 officers and men killed and some 30,000 wounded during Eelam War IV fighting civilians,"" Rajapaksa asked.

Courtesy : The Island/ www.priu.gov.lk

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Trans-national terrorism does not respect borders -(Lakshman Kadirgamar memorial lecture: by Liam Fox) - 10.07.2011

The lesson we have to learn toady is that trans-national terrorism does not respect boundaries or borders,British Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox said.

The brand of violent extremism peddled by extremist allies and affiliates are not confined to one part of the globe, nor do they target one country, one faith, or one system of Government, he said delivering the Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture yesterday.

""We all have a stake in confronting terrorism wherever it surfaces, whether it be in New York, London, Mumbai or Colombo, however difficult that challenge is and however long it takes"" the British Foreign Secretary said.

He further said the recommendations by Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission will play a key role in strengthening the process of accountability and support peace and, perhaps even more importantly, reconciliation as this country

Lakshman Kadirgamar would have undoubtedly welcomed the defeat of the LTTE, one of the most brutal terrorist organisations the world has seen. It was an organisation where children were forced to become soldiers or even suicide bombers and where violence and murder were seen as legitimate tools, the British Defence said.
The following is a transcript distributed by the British High Commission in Colombo of the address by British Secretary of Defence:
It was 16 years ago that I first met Lakshman Kadirgamar. In 1995 I was the new Parliamentary Undersecretary of State at the British Foreign Office and he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, here in Sri Lanka.

An accomplished lawyer, sportsman and politician, there was virtually no subject on which he did not have an informed opinion or an interesting anecdote.

In the time that we worked together we became close colleagues as well as good friends. He was a kind, thoughtful and brave man who enriched public life with principle and integrity.

My involvement in Sri Lanka began during a visit to Vavuniya.

I remember standing outside a refugee camp where a little boy, perhaps three or four years old and with a very badly damaged left leg, held his hand out through the gate.

I remember the look, to this day, on his face - innocent, hopeful but sad.

I asked the official with me what we in the UK were doing to help. And the answer was “it is not our sphere of influence”.

And that is the instant when I decided to try to help a country which has fascinated and frustrated me ever since, but where the friendships I made have endured.

Since that time political opportunities have presented themselves and have been missed when personal or partisan interests have taken precedence over national interests.

Too much time has been wasted, too many chances missed, too much blood spilled.

Lakshman Kadirgamar is remembered for his ferocious condemnation, globally, of the violence perpetrated by the LTTE on ordinary Sri Lankans.

As a Tamil himself he understood better than most the complexities of the internal political dynamic.

When asked once by the BBC if he was a traitor to the Tamil people as Foreign Minister in a largely Sinhalese government he said ‘people who live in Sri Lanka are first and foremost Sri Lankans, then we have our own race and religion which is something given to us at birth’.

He fully understood the very significant personal risks he was taking by choosing a life in public service. We often talked about those very real risks but those of you who knew Lakshman will remember a man who was not easily diverted from his chosen path.

From his involvement in student politics (where he was President of the Oxford Union) to his formidable legal career or in his sporting commitment (he was also an Oxford Blue) he was not a man to be pushed around – as Shane Warne will testify.

At the beginning of our work together I remember clandestine meetings in hotels where the venue would be changed at the last minute and where there were always seemingly endless seas of body guards – such was the security threat.

Of course, there was widespread suspicion in London and Colombo about our motives.

Why would a junior British Minister care so much about a former colonial island on the other side of the world? What was the real agenda? What were the Foreign Minister’s real motivations and what did it mean for the internal political dynamic of Sri Lanka?

No-one at the time seemed prepared to believe it was simply about the well being, safety and future of the ordinary people of this country.

There was so much suspicion that I remember on one occasion being asked by Lakshman to arrive in an airport nearby and be ready to travel to Colombo at short notice if he thought it politically prudent to do so.

I ended up spending 5 days in a wet Bangkok, (playing tennis with my staff and buying unnecessary amounts of sports clothing) – before deciding no call would come and heading home. Such were the frustrations we endured in that period.

Between 1996 and 1997 we worked tirelessly on what came to be known as the Fox Accord although the Fox/Kadirgamar Accord would have been more apt given his co-stewardship of the process. But such was the mark of the man, seeing the Agreement enacted was reward enough for him.

It was designed to create a framework within which political contacts could be made with the LTTE without the risk of being undermined by public exposure.

The government gave a commitment to disclose any contacts with the LTTE to the opposition who in turn gave a commitment to treat these in full confidence.

Lakshman and I genuinely believed this might, at some point, create a mechanism for a political settlement if the LTTE were ever to renounce violence and seek political solutions to the division in the country.

Ranil Wickremesinghe gave his support and encouragement to the process and President Chandrika Kumaratunga signed the agreement on the day that I returned to the UK to fight the 1997 General Election.

It was an election we knew even at that point we would lose. And we did. The incoming Labour government showed little interest in Sri Lanka or in taking forward the political process we had begun.

The agreement subsequently withered on the vine, to my very great sadness, and the cycle of violence brought more misery, more violence and more death.

It would be another decade before I set foot in Sri Lanka again. That decade was painful to watch – even at a distance. This country was convulsed by violence and terror.

Too many mothers’ sons and daughters never came home from a bloody internal conflict which consumed too much of the economy and held this country back from the international opportunities enjoyed by so many of your neighbours.

In Colombo, too much energy was spent on fruitless political rivalries when it could have been spent in the pursuit of peace and prosperity for the people.

Then in June 2007 I met Foreign Minister Bogollagama at the International Institute for Strategic Studies meeting in Shangri-La in Singapore. And he encouraged me to return to Sri Lanka to see first-hand the political developments that have taken place and in November 2007. I had the chance to visit a number of parts of the country and to meet with a wide range of political representatives.

The political situation had changed. A large number of senior UNP members had joined the central government and the JVP, from its original beginnings, had made advances.

How would the changes in Sri Lanka have been greeted by Lakshman Kadirgamar?

He believed in a future where Sri Lanka was united and where all citizens were equal, irrespective of their ethnicity or religion, and offered an opportunity to live without fear and share in the country’s future as it emerged from the shadows of terrorism.

He believed in an independent judicial system complemented by political reform and underpinned by a free press. It was his unswerving belief in these which made him such a compelling and internationally respected political figure.

He would have undoubtedly welcomed the defeat of the LTTE, one of the most brutal terrorist organisations the world has seen. It was, we must remember, an organisation where children were forced to become soldiers or even suicide bombers and where violence and murder were seen as legitimate tools.

But his commitment to the principles of accountability before the law meant that he was never a man who believed that the ends always justify the means.

He would have expected, as I do, allegations of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law by both sides at the end of the conflict to be taken seriously and to be fully investigated and any individuals responsible to be brought fully to account.

He would have expected, as I do, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission to examine all the evidence and make final credible recommendations to the Sri Lankan government.

Those recommendations will play a key role in strengthening the process of accountability and support peace and, perhaps even more importantly, reconciliation as this country moves forward.

I hope and expect that we will see that type of progress when the LLRC reports in November.

The two of us often talked late into the evening about our hopes for peace in Sri Lanka but we shared a view that peace is not simply the absence of war.

A genuine peace requires other positive attributes.

It requires freedom from fear, freedom of expression including a free press and broadcast media and the freedom to dissent within the law.

It requires an inclusive political solution that addresses the underlying causes of conflict and takes into account the legitimate grievances and aspirations of all the people of this island.

These are the challenges which today’s politicians here must face and the principles they must uphold and defend if the aspirations of Lakshman Kadirgamar are to be achieved.

But the aspirations he held for Sri Lanka went well beyond the domestic agenda, which is all too often the focus of international attention. He wanted his country to play a full role in regional and global politics.

I wonder what he would he have made of the global strategic picture today?

The world looks very different from South Asia than it does from Europe.

Too many in Europe today still remain focussed on the structures and dynamics of the second half of the 20th century, failing to recognise and adapt to the global shift that has occurred in politics as well as economics.

The world maps on the walls of European capitals place the Greenwich Meridian at the centre – technically correct, but betraying a very Eurocentric and antiquated view of the world. If you visit Congressmen in the United States they have Pacific in the middle.

And not only that, the political institutions of the European Union remain consumed with building their own structures and power – rather than looking outward at how the world is changing – pursuing rigidity rather than embracing flexibility.

The immediate obsession in Europe is with debt and default – an understandable focus given the exposure of European countries to the financial crisis which continues to unravel.

Yet future challenges are often unaddressed. Of course the problems here are different but no less challenging.

Sri Lanka has a role to play in maintaining the international stability and security that, as an open, trading nation, the United Kingdom’s national interest requires.

Economic prosperity is the well-spring of strategic strength. It always has been. Power and influence have always followed economic trends.

Over a quarter of the world’s 100 richest cities are in this region – in the top 30, there are twice as many here as there are in Europe.

Asia is already one of the key centres of global power in the 21st Century – and we’re only a decade in.

How the balance of power in this region develops – in close co-operation and in healthy competition – and how countries of this region choose to exercise their responsibility – matters not only to you but to everyone across the globe, including us in the United Kingdom.

But progress in the region remains uneven and the proceeds of development and economic growth do not always benefit the people of the region in equal measure.

In many places the challenges of poverty, disease, and the provision of basic services remain significant.

Respect for fundamental human rights, which underpin healthy societies and help unleash human potential, is not universal.

Ethnic and religious divisions and tensions smoulder in many places, as Sri Lanka knows to its very grave cost.

Not too far away, in Afghanistan and increasingly in Pakistan, these forces have created an epicentre of conflict, into which over the last decade, the international community has been drawn.

And while, across Asia former communist countries modernise and evolve, embracing the energy of capitalism, embracing the opportunities of globalisation, playing positive roles in the maintenance of regional security, in places like North Korea the old dangerous dynamic remains.

One thing is clear, in this connected globalised world many of the threats we face are not confined to one country, nor even to one region, they spread across borders and extend across oceans, they go beyond ethnicity and religion.

Perhaps when Francis Fukuyama wrote his now infamous book, he should have called it “The End of Geography”, not “The End of History”.

To meet the challenges of this new world West and East, North and South must work together.

And it is not only the challenges of economic and political development on which we must work together, the security challenge requires joint strategies and joint action too.

We can already see encouraging examples of this being put into practice today.

In Afghanistan, which I last visited only two weeks ago, a wide international coalition of 48 countries is assisting the Afghan Government to resist the Taliban-led insurgency, build their indigenous security and deny safe haven to those intent on exporting trans-national terrorism.

Of course, that process must include Pakistan, and Pakistan too requires our support as it battles similar threats on its own soil.

The lesson we have to learn is that trans-national terrorism does not respect boundaries or borders.

The brand of violent extremism peddled by Al Qaida and its extremist allies and affiliates are not confined to one part of the globe, nor do they target one country, one faith, or one system of Government.

We all have a stake in confronting terrorism wherever it surfaces, whether it be in New York, London, Mumbai or Colombo, however difficult that challenge is and however long it takes.

We also have to be responsible for the way in which we confront terrorism and be held to account for it. The same is true in countering the scourge of piracy.

As an island nation, maritime security remains of fundamental importance for the United Kingdom, just as it does for Sri Lanka.

International action is gathering pace with multi-national forces already operating in the Gulf, off the Horn of Africa and elsewhere.

The UK has also applied to join the Regional Co-operation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia. We recognise the challenge is a global one.

Sri Lanka is located in a pivotal position in the Indian Ocean with major international shipping routes between the Far East and the Gulf within 25 miles of your coast.

In Trincomalee, Sri Lanka has a formidable strategic asset in this struggle that has yet to be fully realised.

So there is significant potential, for Sri Lanka to play a greater role, in issues such as counter piracy.

In this increasingly interconnected world it is not only the physical transfer of goods and services we have to protect.

The effect on the economies of this region of a well-planned and well resourced cyber attack on trans-national commercial networks and institutions would be catastrophic, and would have an impact on us all. There would be no hiding places.

We face today the war of the invisible enemy.

That is why the United Kingdom is mainstreaming cyber security across all parts of Government at home, and why cyber security is regularly high on the agenda in discussions we have with partners in this region.

And then there is another threat. Because nuclear proliferation is another area in which we must continue to co-operate and ensure nuclear non-proliferation becomes the rule, not the exception.

We have a direct interest in working together to address the nuclear programmes of North Korea and Iran.

But we also have an interest in strengthening the international rules-based system in order to reduce the risk of future proliferation, help declared nuclear states build trust, de-escalate tensions, and bring down, not build up, nuclear arsenals.

In all these areas isolation or unilateralism is not an option for the future. It is a relic of the past. The responsible exercise of power requires partnership.

As the influence of Asia grows, so too does the requirement for more nations to take responsibility for building the regional and international stability and security that is needed if our citizens are to remain prosperous and protected.

The last 12 months has seen significant developments in regional security here with the continuing evolution of ASEAN and the establishment of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus.

I have no doubt that this trend – of increasingly effective and developing institutions – will continue over time. They need to continue.

I believe that as we continue with a global economy that is interconnected we will need multilayered security so that we can respond using the right means for the right occasion – through multi-lateral organisations yes but also through smaller coalitions or bi-lateral relationships, often based on historic experience.

This is what we might describe as a “building block” approach to defence and security and it is part of the United Kingdom’s new strategy of enhanced engagement in this part of the world, as it is across the globe.

CONCLUSION

I often say that politics is a binary proposition – shape the world around you or be shaped by the world around you.

I know which choice Lakshman Kadirgamar would have made. He would have believed that moral conviction with tenacity of purpose and the will to see it through was the right course to chart.

We can leave those who come after us many things – knowledge money, security. But the greatest is hope.

Let that be Lakshman’s legacy to Sri Lanka and beyond.

Courtesy: www.priu.gov.lk

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IDPs dropped to 10,956 - 08.07.2011

The total number of IDPs has declined to 10, 956 as of today (July 08), said the Chief Coordinating Officer of the Competent Office for the IDPs, Colonel Vadugodapitiya.
This number includes 10, 860 IDPs in Menik Farm Relief Village and 96 IDPs in Jaffna Ramavil transit camp, he added.
The Government has resettled 258,446 IDPs in their places of origin so far.
Accordingly, 220,875 IDPs from Vavuniya, Mannar, Trincomalee and other districts have been resettled in their places of origin.
Also, the Government has released 27,720 IDPs from all centers for humanitarian reasons. They include pregnant women, infants with family members, university students, elderly people (over 60 years), clergy, foreign passport holders and people with special medical conditions and court orders.
Furthermore, 9,851 IDPs in the Jaffna district have been resettled in their places of origin such as Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya and Trincomalee.

Colombo among worlds low cost of living cities - Worldwide Cost of Living 2011
Colombo has ranked high among the low cost of living cities in the world, according to the latest Worldwide Cost of Living Survey of The Economist.

Tokyo is still the most expensive city in the world according to the Survey.

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living Survey is a full service that enables human resources line managers and expatriate executives to compare the cost of living in 140 cities in 93 countries and calculate fair compensation policies for relocating employees, The Economist stated.

Colombo ranks in 114th, in the bottom 20. Mumbai and New Delhi were also in the bottom 10. Most of 10 cheapest cities were in South Asia with the Pakistani port of Karachi at the bottom of the index.

“Despite the rise of India as a growing emerging-market economy, the low cost of living in cities continues to reflect the fact that the subcontinent remains a comparatively cheap place to live and work,” the Survey said.

Oslo, Osaka Kobe, Paris and Zurich are now the second, third, fourth and fifth respectively. Sydney and Melbourne are now the sixth and seventh most expensive cities on the planet, the Economist Survey revealed.

More significantly Perth and Brisbane, major regional centres closest to the country’s booming coal and iron ore mines, rose to 13 and 14 respectively.

“Ten years ago Sydney was ranked 71st and Melbourne 80th, while Perth was ranked 91st and Brisbane was 93rd,” the Survey said.

“This is the culmination of a remarkable rise in the cost of living in Australian cities over the last decade, a period in which the value of the Australian dollar has moved from around 50 US cents to passing parity with the US dollar earlier this year.”

It is now cheaper to live in London, Vienna, Rome, Berlin, Hong Kong and Beijing than most Australian cities, it said.

“This year the cost of living has increased further in Tokyo, despite the human and economic cost of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Tokyo in March and the subsequent nuclear reactor scare in Fukushima,” the Survey further said.

Courtesy: http://www.defence.lk

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This is BBC calling-Now click on to Channel-4 - 08.07.2011

On Air, BBC answers to a London Call for Aunty Beeb. Her Randy Niece is Channel 4.Both live off portions of state licensing revenues while Aunty is the recipient of government grants; Aunty and Niece have to street walk to collect funds to survive - sources being predominantly fat cat corporations. Diaspora are lavish on pleasing the media. The young lass is an easier and cheaper prey to solicit than the aged relative. They live on the pride of a self proclaimed holy trinity of -objectivity, impartiality and balance- in a reality show, cause for mirth! Its like a call to a nun in a convent and hear a bar girl at a pub, speak.
Editor of Daily Mirror Piers Morgan published photographs of Iraqi prisoners being abused by British soldiers. The military labelled them as fakes and editor was sacked instantly by the proprietor on a demand by their American shareholders. In stepped, BBC in News Night (BBC2 May 14, 2004), where Melanie Phillips called editors conduct ""treachery against the interest of the country and a lie which puts our troops in such an appalling light is unforgivable"". BBC 2 (14.May 2004) reported ""Its time the ego of one editor is measured against the life of a soldier"".
In House of Lords the question was asked ""what action including criminal charges, does the government anticipate will be taken against the editor?"" The scene is reminiscent of Sri Lanka. BBC/Channel 4 finds us guilty on material provided by hostile parties without placing the charge before the accused. Not so, in a case where their men are in uniform -they are summarily exonerated. Brits stand up for the cross of St.George in the cotton fields of Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya where civilians are slaughtered like lambs by flying objects.
Later it was established that the photographs were indeed fabricated. With those reminiscences, why did the UK Minister Alistair Burt (""shocked by horrific scenes""-soothing balm on Diaspora voters) mindful of the issues raised by experts on the authenticity of the video clips in Sri Lankas Killing Fields, rush to judgment? Sri Lankan press barons do not treat their editorial material as disposable syringes or our tongue loose Ministers do not insult friendly commonwealth countries - certainly not until a fact is proved. If a newspaper office here, did the same, editors guilds around the globe would have raised cain.
Red Cross reported from Iraq (Guardian May14, 2004)""Following the arrest, men were made to kneel, face and hand against the ground, as if in a prayer position. The soldiers stamped on the back of the necks of those raising head"". Later (Media Lens, 19 May 2004) they were moved to the office of the secret police of Saddam Hussein and were severely beaten resulting in deaths. Is Channel 4 short of footage to produce a documentary on exploits where US and UK soldiers kill civilians as a daily routine in their playing fields of war? Probably to them it is just cricket played according to the rules of the MCC. Is that the neutral and dispassionate reporting, which they boast of?
Esteemed British medical journal Lancet on research by Colombia University, New York (2003) reported 100000 more Iraqi civilians died due to the invasion:84 percent of deaths were the acts of the Coalition Forces, 95 per cent of which were due to air artillery attacks. Mostly, they were women and children.
Channel 4 in a patriotic module questioned Lancets 100000 civilian deaths in Channel 4 News (October 29, 2004) ""without bodies can we trust the body count?... Given the worsening security situation itll be a long time before we have an accurate picture for civilian losses, if ever....Definition of a civilian is not clear"" is diametrically opposite the stand on Sri Lankas alleged 40000 civilian deaths projected by them. Forked tongues do wag.
On the Iraq body check by Lancet, Channel 4 science reporter Tom Clarke defended the British Government by declaring ""But the studys main weakness, and the one highlighted by Downing Street in dismissing todays figures, is that it multiplies a small sample across the whole of Iraq. A country at war, where people are aggrieved and displaced from their homes, makes household based surveys far less accurate"" Fancy that, on 40000 civilian deaths in Sri Lanka, Channel 4 proclaims it without any basis, a pure hallucination number provided by the Diaspora and their foreign press legion , reflected in the Darusman Report. Where is the standard set for Iraq...""without bodies can we trust the body count""?. Interpretation is your pleasure and prerogative.
New Statesman (November 15,2004) reviewed Channel 4 body count to comment: ""The BBC framed the report in terms of the governments doubts and Channel 4 delivered a hatchet job, based on Downing Street briefing"". Indeed, their masters voice on her majestys service.
NATO Forces in Serbia bombed 33 hospitals, 344 schools,144 major industrial plants in addition to churches, mosques, hotels, museums, libraries, theatres, farms including a passing passenger train and the Chinese embassy in Belgrade in 78 days of continuous bombing.(www.lancet.com). Civilian deaths are irrelevant and military targets are immaterial, where NATO Forces operate. The death of the first US soldier in Afghanistan, Nathan Campbell received more media space than the aggregate deaths of all civilians. Concerns of the West can be measured by the reading shown on a foot-ruler beside the news print. If a single American dies it is front page news; if scores of Afghan civilians die due to cluster bombs-it is not worth a mention.
Government sources quote, Channel 4 has published 30 reports on Sri Lankas war against terrorism in addition to 4 video clips predominantly highlighting atrocities allegedly committed by the Security Forces. In its 27 year existence Channel 4 has failed to give similar prominence to any of the long list of war crimes committed by the LTTE though deemed a terrorist organization by 33 countries. Asking why is as benign as begging Transparency International to do an audit?
Did they ever report that all 595 child combatants were handed back to their parents after rehabilitation and of the 11598 LTTE senior combatants that surrendered 6130 are back home after being reconditioned to enter the mainstream of the society? More facts in favour are downstream. Naturally, hostility prevails after three of Channel 4 journalists were deported, found fixing a falsely concocted documentary film on the situation in Sri Lanka in April 2009.
In Fallujah in Iraq in 2004, US troops attacked its main hospital, shot the medical staff and patients, hit travelling ambulances, prevented the safe passage of emergency blood and medical supplies. Doctors narrated the killing of women and children carrying white flags. BBC reported none of it (John Pilger in his foreword to ""Guardians of Power"") that made critics call BBC....B)ush and B(lair) Corporation. Security Forces engaged in the worlds largest hostage rescue operation on the banks of the Nandikadal lagoon were accused of attacking unmarked temporary LTTE medical centers and Aunty Beeb rushed to call for an international inquiry. NATOs 33 bombed hospitals in Serbia seemed to have faded into BBCs disturbed Alzheimer mindset.
The list is too long on BBC/Channel 4 misdemeanor, one writing is insufficient.
Are we on the brink of making a blunder too long by giving space to the LLRC -the all purpose vehicle- to report in mid November after the Human Rights Council gathers in mid September with the guillotine in hand to commit us to inquiry? Though respected, its another over 60 elders club, inclined towards slumber time. A speedy interim report recommending a detailed domestic mechanism must be placed before the Government and implemented forthwith. LLRC has to cure the Governments lack of intellectual gravy; more interested in collecting flysmile bonus points doing their homework. Sri Lankans both at home and abroad do more to improve the image for the love of the country than our embassy staff.
At war, fight was against the LTTE; on war crimes we are pitted against the might that supported the LTTE silently from the sidelines.

Courtesy: http://www.defence.lk

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Teardrop Island is back in demand – The National – 07.07.2011

Sri Lanka has become a hot destination for international property investors - two years after the end of the conflict, states Abu Dhabi government-owned English-language daily newspaper, The National.

The article adds, ""The renewed interest is driving up prices, especially for developable land. Several resort and second-home projects are being built, targeting the type of investors and buyers who have been focusing on such destinations as Dubai, Spain and Mauritius in recent years.""

""Now is the moment in Sri Lanka that everything is happening,"" quoting Magda Knop, a property agent based in France The National stated.

Ms Knop is working with a Belgian developer building three coastal villa projects and is hoping to attract buyers from Asia, India, the Middle East and Europe.

Long regarded as a tropical paradise, Sri Lanka has a number of selling points for property investors, including 1,340km of largely undeveloped coastline.

An international airport is under construction in Hambantota in the South, and new roads should improve access to resort areas, it said.

Tourism arrivals for the first five months of this year were up 40.2 per cent from a year earlier, according to the Sri Lankan tourism bureau data. That followed a 46 per cent increase from 2009 to last year, with most visitors coming from India, the UK, Germany and France.

Sri Lanka needs an additional 12,000 to 18,000 hotel rooms in the next five to 10 years to meet demand, according to the property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle.

To bolster property targeting international visitors, the government is offering land to developers at low lease rates, discount capital through state banks and tax breaks on the import of construction materials, The National stated.

The government is also developing port facilities, hoping to attract trade traffic from other Asian countries. Foreign direct investment jumped to a record US$236 million (Dh866.8m) in the first quarter of this year, a 160 per cent increase from a year earlier, The National adds.

""As long as the government continues along the line of aggressive infrastructure, the country is poised for growth,"" says Nathan Wills, the chief executive of Ataraxia Capital Partners, an investment company in Sydney.

Ataraxia has launched a $20m fund tracking the Sri Lankan stock market, hoping to capitalize on the countrys GDP growth, which is expected to exceed 8 per cent a year. ""Its on the radar of a lot of investments funds,"" says Mr Wills.

Property investors are focusing on undeveloped land that can be used for future projects. Attractive coastal parcels are available for€60,000 (Dh320,000) to €75,000 a hectare, much less than other tropical destinations.

Developers in Asia have been particularly active in the past year, proposing some of the largest projects in the islands history.

The Chinese company CATIC is backing a 4-hectare hotel and shopping mall complex in Colombo, while the Singapore investor SPTao is behind the $350m Havelock City, a 6.8-hectare mixed-use development under construction in the capital.

Also in Colombo, the Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Asia is building a 500-room Shangri-La hotel, the first in Sri Lanka. The teardrop island is also attracting second-home buyers and pensioners, who see the country as an alternative to more well-travelled destinations.

""I now get far more enquiries from people living in the UK as well as expats in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, UAE, and my clients from Thailand who are looking to invest elsewhere,"" says Sue Fitzgerald, the managing director of Property Perfect, a consultancy in Hong Kong.

Several projects are under development on the east coast, which was heavily affected by fighting for many years, opening up new areas for tourism and people wanting to buy second homes, The National states.

""Prices rose dramatically after the war ended,"" says Ms Fitzgerald.

courtesy: www.priu.gov.lk

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See No Good, Hear No Good, Speak No Good’ attitude will not help Sri Lanka – Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha- 07.07.2011

The Darusman Report, as well as the selective coverage by Channel 4 of what they had termed ‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’ had contributed to polarization amongst Sri Lankans which inhibited efforts at reconciliation. Such forces, which often worked in tandem, presenting the same biased and often doctored material in different guises, were then used by separatist forces operating outside the country, stated Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha at the Sri Lankan High Commission in London on July 5th, addressing a cross section of academics, journalists, opinion makers and members of the Sri Lankan Diaspora in the UK.

Prof. Wijesinha’s presentation entitled ‘Reconciliation in the Context of Channel 4 Allegations” also included a comprehensive briefing on post-conflict re-building endeavours. Elaborating on the progress made in many areas of concern within a relatively short period of time against numerous constraints, Prof. Wijesinha said that it is time that the international community acknowledges this aspect. Though fears had been expressed in 2009 about Resettlement and Reconstruction, none of the progress in these areas were acknowledged. What seemed a general attitude of “See no Good, Hear No Good, Speak No Good”, ignoring the positive reactions of international agencies on the ground in Sri Lanka, would not help move the people of the country together towards prosperity.

Prof. Wijesinha also called all friends of Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan expatriates of all ethnicities to come forward and lend a hand to the Government in its re-building efforts and also to ensure stability in the country. He expressed hope that a suitable political solution will emerge sooner than later, while sharing with the gathering of about 150 guests the status of ongoing talks with the Tamil National Alliance.

The address was followed by a wide-ranging question and answer session in which, amongst others, issues with regard to language rights and training, accountability and communications were addressed.

Here is the full text of the presentation

Reconciliation in the Context of Channel 4 allegation

The last few months have seen an astonishing spate of attacks on the Sri Lankan government. These began with the publication of the Darusman report, by three individuals who were tasked to appoint the Un Secretary General on accountability issues but instead sat in judgment on the Sri Lankan state and its armed forces. Immediately those who had in any case been attacking the government previously now used this as a tool.

That episode was followed by a book by a man called Gordon Weiss, and then a film aired on Channel 4. All this added to the impression that there was a mass of evidence against the Sri Lankan government. However the exercise was similar to that of Wittgenstein’s gentleman who bought a second copy of the morning paper to establish that what the first said was true. I noticed for instance that many elements in the Report were repeated in Gordon Weiss’s book, and the only detailed allegations in the Report were based on the pictures shown on Channel 4.

I have responded in detail to these allegations in some detail in various documents, and in one sense we should be grateful to these characters since they have made clear the necessity to tell the real story, as it happened. But we must also bear in mind that people believe what they want to believe. The attacks will continue from people who refuse to look at evidence. If a report commissioned by the Secretary General ignored the evidence of the senior UN personnel on the ground, and instead relied on a few who had been repudiated previously by their seniors, one must recognize that rationality has nothing to do with it, and that political and emotional considerations will trump evidence.

Still, we should point out forcefully the major errors and improprieties in the campaign being conducted. With regard to Channel 4 for instance, it should be noted that they, like many other media outfits, were permitted into Sri Lanka early in 2009. Most outfits were quite fair, and these continue to operate in Sri Lanka, the BBC for instance and in particular several Indian agencies. Our view that having the media around was a positive factor proved correct in that it was the reporting from the ground that assuaged feelings in India when extremists were anxious to mislead the people of Tamilnadu, before the election there, and create problems.

However several British outfits were determined to falsify. The Times engaged in a particularly vicious campaign, which another British journalist explained as arising from its association with New Labour – and we now know for a fact, courtesy of the Americans, what we long suspected, that David Miliband’s approach was for electoral advantage. The Guardian did produce several erroneous reports, but only when a stringer called Gethin Chamberlain wrote. His stories had often to be corrected, though he flatly refused to correct the most outrageous of them, when he claimed that 11 women had been found with their throats cut. He confessed that there was no basis for this, and that his source could not be trusted. I had the impression that this was a junior UN person, and having studied the rest of his reports, I believe it was Gordon Weiss – he quoted the man early on, but then after that he did not mention names but kept talking about an anonymous UN source.

Channel 4 however, given the medium, was even more dramatic. From the start it seemed there was a conspiratorial element to it, and their team was soon asked to leave. So it was not surprising that later that year they produced the first aggressive attack on Sri Lanka, in the form of a brief clip shown in August 2009. They refused to allow the High Commission to see this in advance, and indeed did not show anyone the video they had received. They even refused to give it to the UN Special Rapporteur, who was instead another version, different in some particulars, supplied by an outfit called Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka.

The only member of this outfit I know is a man called Sunanda Deshapriya, who would turn up at Geneva in attempts to discredit the Sri Lankan government. The last time I saw him there – when he confirmed that he was involved with this Journalists for Democracy outfit – he kept quiet because I had taken photocopies of the article in the ‘Sunday Leader’, no friend of the Sri Lankan government, which detailed his financial irregularities. In fact the Centre for Policy Alternatives, another seminal critic of government, had to publicly disown him. The fact then that he was involved in the group that was supplying different copies of this video to different people suggests something suspicious.

The video itself had flaws we pointed out, some of which had been removed in the second version sent to the UN. Its experts did confess nevertheless that there were some problems, but they thought by and large that the video was authentic. One of the problems was a moving leg, which was supposed to belong to a dead body – one of the experts claimed that we could not be sure the person was dead, he might have been just drunk or asleep.

The performance of these experts left so much to be desired, that it seemed almost a godsend that for over a year this was the only claim that there was evidence to suggest some people in the Sri Lankan forces had committed crimes. But of course, a year later, to coincide with the visit of the President to England, Channel 4 came out with another video.

This was also quite strange, in that the same UN experts, while claiming that the longer video explained some discrepancies, now confessed that the video had clearly been edited. The editing included transposing segments, so that what was filmed first appeared third. This explained the strange phenomenon of the number of dead bodies on display reducing as time passed. The reason for this decision to edit backward remains obscure, as also the reason for including a segment that the experts declared had happened at a different time or even, as one of them asserted, in a different place. They continued to claim that the shooting was all done on mobile phones, even though one of them pointed out that an optical zoom had been used at one point, a device it seems you do not find in mobile phones. Incidentally, Channel 4 refused to give even the UN any more information about the video, though this time it did provide them with the video that was shown.

And now, again with brilliant timing, to coincide with the UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, Channel 4 produces another film. Again they absolutely refuse to share the material with us, which makes a mockery of their claim that they want us to investigate and bring to justice those responsible for any crimes. Their refusal to provide the evidence for us to proceed suggests that their agenda is very different, as is indeed obvious from other problems that have been pointed out, namely that the film mixes up a range of shots, some of them obviously authentic, and uses these to make sweeping allegations which are not substantiated. I believe a sharp analysis of what was going on was provided in the Sunday Times a couple of weeks back, and there is perhaps little more to say, except to note that we will have to live with this type of sensationalism for a while yet.

But, for those of us who are keen on reconciliation, we need to understand what Channel 4 is up to, and why. Given the vicious nature of the attack, it is clear that it is serving a particular agenda, which obviously has nothing to do with morality, given its own record over the years, the support it has given for militarism when it benefits Britain, and its refusal to allow us a fair chance to discuss issues raised – as when they refused to see me after the first film shown, until shamed to do so by a comment I made on the BBC early morning programme.

That agenda can be understood in terms of what has already happened, in terms of providing an excuse for even more emotional attacks on us by the remnants of the LTTE propaganda outfits. Even before the programme was shown, letters were sent to many politicians, including even local Councillors, and we can see the results of this in the reactions of a few – though others, having seen the programme, have noted that it was quite one-sided. More insidiously, the programme was designed to stop active involvement in Sri Lanka of those members of the Tamil community who, free from LTTE pressure, were wondering what they could do to improve the situation of their brethren at home.

It is this polarizing that we must combat, because that would be the most helpful way of reviving the old LTTE agenda. It is even more important than before then, while roundly condemning the tactics of this divisive group, to be even more conciliatory with regard to the vast majority of the Tamil people, and make it clear that we will go on with rebuilding the country.

In this regard I will mention some of the positive things that have been achieved recently, and urge your support for taking things further. First and foremost we have begun taking practical action to overcome the divisiveness caused by insensitive language policies. Tamil was made an official language in 1987, but the introduction of compulsory bilingualism in the school system took place only in the nineties, with now regulations that make knowledge of the other official language mandatory for new recruits to the public sector. Much more however needs to be done, and that is why we are also reforming our education system, encouraging private institutions and input into tertiary education and skills training, strengthening the English medium option that was introduced in 2001, promoting opportunities for youngsters to meet and realize that they have much more in common than they had hitherto thought. But much more still requires to be done, and I hope that the diaspora will contribute to educational exchanges, to endowing scholarships at your old schools, to supporting training for youngsters who were deprived, in particular the former combatants who had to abandon schooling early when they were conscripted.

Another area in which reform has begun, but needs to be fast forwarded, is that of recruitment to the public sector, and in particular to the security forces. It is often ignored that minorities continue to occupy high positions in the armed forces, and in particular in training establishments where they were relatively safe from the particular animosity against them evinced by the LTTE, but certainly in the last few years recruitment has been less. With regard to the military, security considerations were involved, including the targeting by the LTTE of Tamil speaking officers, even during the so-called Ceasefire Agreement period, but there was still continuing recruitment in some areas, including to the Cadet Corps, for education as well as cadet training. Sadly the Ministry of Education seems to have prevented the Ministry of Defence from continuing with this programme, which had facilitated the commissioning of Tamil officers even while fighting was going on.
This is particularly important since we need the involvement of all our citizens in security activity. For we have to remember that, while the discrimination of the sixties and seventies led to the initial desire to leave Sri Lanka, this process was exacerbated by what I believe was state sponsored violence against Tamils on three distinct occasions following the election of the 1977 government of President Jayewardene. This government continued to be in favour with Western countries that have recently discovered a commitment to human rights, and more startlingly continued to be supported by even Tamils in Colombo, who were more concerned about class than race. That only changed with the attacks on Tamils in Colombo too in 1983. But previously the violence unleashed on less privileged Tamils, in 1977 in a few areas, and then in many more in 1981, had laid the groundwork for the deep emotions we see in so many expatriates.
I understand and sympathize then with those who left our shores, not only for economic reasons in the seventies, but for the disgusting attacks on Tamils in the early eighties, the burning of the Jaffna Public Library in 1981, the systematic assaults of July 1983. Those have not been repeated, but we must appreciate why, in the confrontational approach those brutalities engendered, tensions continued. I believe that ensuring that our security forces are multi-ethnic is vital for restoring confidence, and government should fast forward programmes towards this end.

I should note that the police continued to recruit from all communities at all levels, and at the height of the war 700 odd officers passed out from the Training School at Kallady in the East. However, applications were few, given fear of the LTTE. Fortunately this changed after the LTTE in Sri Lanka was destroyed, and a few thousand applied, and a couple of batches of several hundred each have now been trained, and appointed, in particular to stations in the North.

The same applied to the public sector, and we believe there will be greater interest now that the threats that confronted so many bright youngsters in the past have been eliminated. But we need to enhance educational opportunites for youngsters, especially in areas from which there was never much recruitment to the public sector, given the neglect of education in those areas, the Wanni and many parts of the East. I am delighted that the present Government Agent for Kilinochchi is the first person from that area to have risen to such a high position in the public service, and her appointment to that area, after strenuous service in Batticaloa when that district was recovering after it was fully liberated from the LTTE in 2007, was suitable recognition of her dedication to the country in difficult circumstances. I can only hope then that efforts to resurrect the LTTE abroad, and to continue to argue for separatism, will not blight the ready willingness of youngsters in Sri Lanka, from the North as well as the East, to take their proper role in the government sector.

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However, we need also to recognize that the orthodoxies of the sixties and seventies, when statist socialism reduced the size of the pie – so that everyone’s share, if increasingly equal, was decreasing in actual content, as John Rawls so tellingly put it in his ‘Theory of Justice’ – have given way to an almost universal understanding that the engine of growth and development needs to be the private sector. Though the excesses and the insensitivities of the crony capitalism that was the alternative, in much of Asia, to statist socialism in the seventies must be avoided, and we must continue with and develop the services that ensure equality of opportunity, education and health and infrastructure and utilities, we need also to ensure much more initiative, much more investment, much more support for entrepreneurship.
In this regard, I would like to mention an initiative undertaken with part of my decentralized budget. I have a particular concern for the former combatants, who were so brutally abused, but who have within a short period seemed to adjust, into the bright and energetic youngsters they would have been if not forced into combat by the LTTE. I had wanted to start a Primary English Training programme for the girls but. By the time I got my funds, all the girls had been released. The Commissioner General requested instead that some of the funds be used for a training programme in psycho-social care, with some of the former combatants being trained to use such skills in the Wanni area. That programme, conducted by a body based in London, including expatriate Sri Lankans, was concluded successfully, and sufficient funding has now been secured for a follow up. But I also wanted some skills training, and we decided therefore on an entrepreneurship development programme.

This was an eye-opener. Over a hundred former combatants applied, and thirty were selected, and proved extremely enterprising. You can see some details of the event, including the very heartening thank you speeches, on the Reconciliation Website, www.peaceinsrilanka.org – the very first articles on the home page, for which you have to scroll all the way down, since that was what I used first when I revived this website. But what also impressed me was the conceptualization skills. Asked to suggest areas in which enterprises could be set up, two groups chose agri-business, the two others construction.

This fits in well with what government has been planning, to make a much better and productive place of the Wanni, neglected for so long by successive Central governments, by the much more advanced entrepreneurs and educationists of Jaffna, and most shamefully by the LTTE who prospered there and did not permit modernization, advanced education or better services despite the funds pouring in from 2002 onward. The area is incredibly fertile and, with the irrigation schemes now being developed, it will provide abundant harvests. Indeed, even at the height of the war, the paddy harvest was excellent, and government actually purchased stocks from the area for distribution to the displaced, even though we knew that the LTTE would commandeer much of the payment.

We need however to ensure that the inhabitants of the area benefit from their labour, and not middlemen. To promote food processing and added value products is essential, and we believe the youngsters there can take on the challenge. But it would be helpful if they could be provided with start up funds, and I hope some organizations abroad will think of collecting funds for micro-credit schemes for the area.

With regard to construction, it must be obvious that, with the rebuilding going on, there are great opportunities for workers as well as suppliers. Unfortunately much of this now benefits people from elsewhere, but it will not take much to build on the vocational training systems already started, while also developing management and accounting skills. In the short term, as well as in the long run, empowering the people of the area to participate actively in development is the only way of ensuring an equitable share of the prosperity the whole country should be moving towards, now that the terrorist threat, which blighted the Wanni in particular, has been removed.
I believe government has done extremely well thus far in the resettlement process, and in providing basic infrastructure, including schools, roads, water and electricity and better communications. It has also restored the local administration, led by extremely experienced Government Agents, some of whom did a superb job even while they had to work in areas controlled by the LTTE before 2009. The lady who ran Mullaitivu and supervised the distribution of supplies till just a few months before the conflict ended, is now in charge of Jaffna. One of her greatest achievements, it should be noted, was in conducting the national Ordinary Level Examination in December 2008, for the children too of those the LTTE had forced into going along with them in their retreat from the Western part of the Wanni. The LTTE asked that the examination be boycotted, but the people did not give in and, after some sporadic efforts at violent prevention, their will prevailed.

The gentleman who looked after Kilinochchi, and kept all services going right upto the time our forces took over the town, with hardly any civilian casualties, now heads the Secretariat in Mannar. The lady who was in charge of Vavuniya right through the period of conflict and displacement is still there, and ably developing new initiatives, while as mentioned Kilinochchi is looked after by the first senior member of the Administrative Service born and bred in that area. In Mullaitivu we have someone who previously worked in Mannar during the conflict, with first hand experience of the problems faces by the displaced.

However, while appreciating the work of these senior officials, we can do much better in developing human resources more comprehensively. With regard to the public sector this is true not only of the North, since the second and third layers of administrators nationwide, given the decline in communication skills and decision making capacities, are not as capable yet as the senior officials mentioned above. But we need too to develop local community leaders, and mechanisms for ensuring that the schools for instance have teachers as well as equipment, that in addition to the main hospitals we have midwives and social workers and child care officials to fill up the cadre positions that are now empty. Proper training, better deployment and more efficient monitoring are essential to ensure that all areas have proper access to services that are essential.

And, while affirming that government is responsible for ensuring the provision of such services, we need to develop private public partnerships to facilitate more effective delivery, whilst also developing simpler and more accessible structures of both responsibility and accountability. In the ongoing negotiations with Tamil political parties, we should also discuss the establishment of better structures at all levels, so as to ensure empowerment of the people, on whose behalf government functions. For too long now our debates have concentrated on the balance of power between politicians from different areas, whereas we should also be thinking of how power can be exercised effectively, with transparency and accountability.

For too long now, accountability has been to institutions dominated by those who need to account. In place of the confrontational politics of the last couple of decades, we need to develop structures that enhance bipartisan approaches to monitoring and policy development, even though decision making rests in the hands of those elected for the purpose. We have made a start on this with the much more healthy relationship between parties on the Standing Committees of Parliament, as I can testify with regard to the Committees on Public Enterprises and on Standing Orders on which I serve. We are also trying to strengthen the role of the Consultative Committees, and it is good to see members of all parties actively involved in at least some of these Committees and the positive approaches of the Ministers concerned when problems are raised.

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I am pleased too that Government has now produced proposals with regard to a Second Chamber based on equal representation for Districts or Provinces. Though this is not a substitute for developing more effective structures on the ground to ensure the empowerment of people with regard to matters that affect them closely, it is also important to ensure a stronger voice for the periphery at matters that will be decided at the Centre. All parties agree that security matters, including financial and food security, need to be entrusted to a Central government, and it was a pity that previously there was no interest in ensuring greater participation of other interests in decision making in these areas. Active involvement of all segments of society in policy issues and decisions is essential, and it is a welcome advance that this too is now recognized on all sides.

It is also important to entrench rights as well as responsibilities and to ensure public awareness of the basic principles on which government and society should operate. At the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, we developed a Human Rights Action Plan, which was near finalization at the end of 2009. Unfortunately, with a series of elections, this was held up and then, with the assumption that Human Rights could be steered by the Foreign Ministry, some priorities were forgotten.

However the matter was entrusted to the Attorney General, who steered the principle through Cabinet last August, so that we were able to have final consultations with civil society and the officials who formed the steering committee. The final draft was then prepared by a special consultant, and it is now before Cabinet. Perhaps even more importantly, our Ministry was able in 2009 to get a draft of a Bill of Rights, as the President had pledged in his 2005 manifesto. That too was put on hold during the election period but, with the Action Plan recommending a dedicated agency for Human Rights, I hope that the Bill too can be finalized by that Agency and, after going before Cabinet, be entrenched soon in the Constitution.

But, apart from fulfilling these pledges which our Ministry managed to advance significantly even during the conflict period, it is also imperative that Government puts in place better communication strategies, in particular to convey information to, and respond to the concerns of, those who are not intrinsically supportive of Government. Much energy is expended on communicating with those who are appreciative of what is being done, and this is important since no Government should neglect those from whom it derives its strength. But it is more important to communicate also with those who have doubts, and in this area Government has much to do.

Distinguished academics who have actually studied the situation on the ground have told us that we have a good story to tell, but we have not told it. After all, where else have nearly all the displaced been resettled so soon? This includes not only the near 300,000 displaced during the last few months of the conflict, but the larger numbers who had previously been displaced, those in the East being largely resettled within a year of displacement, those who had been displaced for up to two decades being also able now to return home if they wish, including the Muslims expelled from the North in 1990 by the LTTE.

The child soldiers who were finally rescued, after years of ineffective efforts to stop this ghastly practice of the LTTE, were given schooling in one of the best schools in Colombo. Orphans have been looked after in established as well as newly constructed institutions, as also by schools that have taken on the challenge successfully – in which regard I should note that support for such schools would always be welcome, along with support to educational institutions in the North that would like to expand the services they provide, to take in more of the Wanni too.

Infrastructure has been developed apace, and the East indeed has been transformed in the last couple of years with communications having opened the way to much more trade. More work in this regard remains to be done in the North but, with the rebuilding of roads and the railway, there will be greater exchange of persons as well as of goods. In this regard support for increasing exchanges between young persons would also be welcome.

I was pleased that one of the foreign journalists who interviewed me, having begun with what seemed a hostile approach, said at the end that there were many matters which were not known here. In one sense that is understandable, because the media obviously prefers bad news to good, since that is what people are interested in. But I believe it is also our fault that we have not communicated better, not only to the media, but also to all those who want a better Sri Lanka for all our people.

Now that the terror and violence in Sri Lanka is over, we need also to overcome the suspicions that remain. In Australia I was pleased that one member of a Sinhalese group that had worked hard against LTTE propaganda told me, after I spoke there, that though he found it difficult to trust Tamils, he realized the effort had to be made. I spoke too to Tamils there, and was pleased that many of them had also forgotten the suspicions of the past and wanted to work together for development of the country as a whole. But I realize that getting over their suspicions will also be difficult, and we in government need to work concertedly to reassure them, to engage with those willing to move forward. It is vital that those abroad, who can remember only the distant past, will not endeavour to revive tensions, but will rather visit the country and see what they can do to help, their people of course, but through that the country as a whole.

The people of Sri Lanka, all over the country, but in particular those in the North, suffered from terrorism, from forced conscription of children, from execution for dissent, from deprivation of services including the food we sent up to them. We need to make clear, if only to assuage the worries of those who watched with concern our overcoming of terrorists, that we did our best throughout for the civilians who were suffering. It should be better known, for instance, that though the ICRC recorded its appreciation of the support our navy extended with regard to evacuation, that of the near 14,000 people brought down during the conflict, only 4,500 were wounded. There were a couple of thousand who were sick, while over 7,000 were described by the ICRC as bystanders. If the claims the LTTE made as to injured were accurate, it would seem that they did not send down some of the wounded for medical assistance, but instead sent down their chosen bystanders to safety.

It is likely that they were in fact lying about the number of those wounded, which would in turn mean that they had not just exaggerated, but grossly exaggerated, the number of those dead. But, given the way they treated the people of the Wanni, it is also possible that they deprived them of medical assistance and instead sent down their cadres to the relative safety of the south of Sri Lanka.

Such matters need to be carefully considered, with precise attention to the statistics maintained by various agencies, international as well as national. That will help in making clear the generally humane way in which government operated, as is evident from the written appreciations sent by the heads of both the UN and the ICRC. We need to do this soon, so that those who are genuinely concerned about the Tamil people in Sri Lanka will be able to understand what they went through, and help to recompense them for what they suffered in a militarized situation. But above all we need to make it clear that the participation of all our citizens, including those now settled abroad, will prove invaluable in the reconciliation, the rehabilitation and the rebuilding that we need swiftly to achieve.

Courtesy: www. Priu.gov.lk

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1000th refugee return home - 06 June 2011

The 1000th Sri Lankan refugee returned home yesterday.

The 1000th refugee returned from Tamil Nadu in India along with a group of 49 Sri Lankan refugees (11 families), the UNHCR said.

""The number of refugees arriving back home in Sri Lanka is rising slowly and could increase further over next half-year with the recent launch of the Tuticorin- Colombo ferry service,"" UNHCR Representative Michael Zwack said.

Today the 1000th refugee returned home. There are also some 2,800 Sri Lankan refugees in India and some in other countries who have expressed an interest in returning in the near future, he said.

According to UNHCRs half-year statistics, a total of 962 Sri Lank refugees returned home compared to 852 refugees in the same period last year. In 2010, a total of 2, 540 refugees returned.

A majority of the returns are taking place from refugee camps in Tamil Nadu, India with small numbers from other countries such as Malaysia, Georgia and the Caribbean Island of St. Lucia.

Most refugees have retuned to Trincomalee, Mannar, Vavuniya and Jaffna. Smaller numbers are returning to Kilinochchi, Batticaloa, Ampara and Colombo districts.

Sri Lankan refugees returning under UNHCRs voluntary repatriation programme receive a standard reintegration grant, as a first step towards helping them restart their lives. Once at their destination in Sri Lanka, these returnees can approach one of UNHCRs five offices in the north and east to obtain a kit of basic household supplies.

Sri Lankan refugees abroad who wish to return home can approach the closest UNHCR office in their country of asylum. Once the request is processed, they are provided with an air ticket to Sri Lanka and assisted to obtain relevant travel documentation.

Courtesy: www.piru.gov.lk

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Tamil and English for Official Documentation in NE - 05.07.2011

Every official document and circular sent to the North and East needs be prepared in Tamil or English, states the Ministry of National Languages and Social Integration.

According to the State Language Policy, Tamil is the language of administration in the Northern and Eastern provinces. However, the Ministry has received many complaints that only the Sinhala language is used in official correspondence with state institutions in those areas.

Against this backdrop, there is an urgent need to use Tamil in official documentation when corresponding with the North and East, the Ministry of National Languages and Social Integration emphasizes. Furthermore, if documents are supplemented by English translations, it will improve the clarity and efficiency of the communication, the Ministry notes. Such a step will help solve the current language issues as well.

The Ministry explains that when signing and replying to a document prepared in Tamil, if the authorized officer has no adequate knowledge about Tamil, he is entitled to sign a translated document prepared in a state language he is familiar with. Subsequently, his response can be translated into Tamil.

The Ministry of National Languages and Social Integration requests all state institutions to follow this procedure and thereby help practice the State Language Policy in an effective manner.

Courtesy: http://www.priu.gov.lk/news

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More than 500 ex-LTTE cadres released - 05.07.2011

Another batch of 552 former LTTE cadres, who had completed their term of rehabilitation were reintegrated into the society yesterday.

They were released at a function presided over by the Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Chandrasiri Gajadeera at Punthottam Tamil Vidyalaya in Vavuniya yesterday.

The remaining 2,950 youths would be successfully rehabilitated and reintegrated into civil society before the end of this year, Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe said.

Maj. Gen. Ranasinghe said the majority of the 552 youth being re-integrated into society were between the ages of 20 and 35. There were six women among them.

He said: ""We have been able to train and reintegrate 7,968 former LTTE cadres. We are providing all the youth with skills, livelihood training so that they may commence a vocation of their choice once re-integrated into society. We have negotiated with the State banks to provide each youth a sum of Rupees 100,000 to 150,000 to commence their livelihoods.

""Similarly, we pay these youths frequent visits, speak to them and see whether they have any problems and monitor them until such time we are very confident that they can stand on their own feet and that we do not need to care for their welfare anymore,"" he said.

Courtesy: http://www.priu.gov.lk/news

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Travel restrictions for foreigners to North lifted – 05.07.2011

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) yesterday lifted the travel restrictions it had imposed on foreign travelers to North.
Foreign passport holders including journalists are no longer required to produce a travel document granting MOD approval at the Omanthai entry/exit point, the main travel check point located in Vavuniya, the Ministry said.
Foreign travelers were previously required to get permission from the MOD before travelling to the northern districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaitivu, and Vavuniya.
""As normalcy is flourishing in the country we see that travel restrictions to foreign passport holders as no longer required"", the ministry website said.
This is a definite sign that the country is heading in the right direction with the rapid reconciliation and development taking place in Wanni and North the Ministry website further said.

Courtesy: http://www.priu.gov.lk/news

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“Let us Revitalize our Moral Life” - Buddhists in South Africa commemorate the 2600th Anniversary of the Enlightenment of Lord Buddha, 17th May 2011

The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Pretoria with association of Buddhist Temples of Thailand, China, and Myanmar, has organised series of events to commemorate the 2600th Anniversary of the Enlightenment of Lord Buddha ,the 2600th Sri Sambuhtdhathwa Jayanthi. The main celebration was held in the evening of Vesak day, 17th May 2011 at the Johannesburg Meditation Centre, highlighting the importance of Buddhist teachings and its relevance to day-to-day life under the theme “Let us Revitalize our Moral Life”. Large number of Sri Lankan, Tai, and South African devotees as well as non Buddhists from many countries participated at the event. The unique display of Vesak lanterns and candle procession in the middle of commercial city of Midrand, Johannesburg was a memorable event for the many visitors on the day.

19.05.2011
High commission of Sri Lanka, Pretoria

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